In a move sure to cause consternation among the tinfoil hat/black helicopter types, Fiat and Microsoft are teaming up for a new feature called EcoDrive. The Italian carmaker and the software company already have an electronic communication system similar to the recently introduced Ford Sync that's called Blue&Me.
New Fiats will be able to log a variety of vehicle and driver data such as throttle position, transmission, speeds and various engine parameters that affect fuel consumption and CO2 emissions. Through Blue&Me, drivers will be able to plug in a USB thumb drive and the data will be automatically downloaded.
When the driver plugs the thumb drive into a computer loaded with the Microsoft EcoDrive software, the data will be analyzed. The software can then give the driver suggestions about how to modify his/her behavior behind the wheel to reduce fuel consumption. As you might expect, the software is Windows-only. Hopefully the data won't be stored in a proprietary format so that open source types can come up with their own analysis software for Linux and Macs.
[Source: Fiat]
11/09/2007
New Fiats will be able to log a variety of vehicle and driver data such as throttle position, transmission, speeds and various engine parameters that affect fuel consumption and CO2 emissions. Through Blue&Me, drivers will be able to plug in a USB thumb drive and the data will be automatically downloaded.
When the driver plugs the thumb drive into a computer loaded with the Microsoft EcoDrive software, the data will be analyzed. The software can then give the driver suggestions about how to modify his/her behavior behind the wheel to reduce fuel consumption. As you might expect, the software is Windows-only. Hopefully the data won't be stored in a proprietary format so that open source types can come up with their own analysis software for Linux and Macs.
[Source: Fiat]
11/09/2007
Fiat and Microsoft Introduce "EcoDrive"
Fiat Group Automobiles and Microsoft Automotive Business Unit announce a new Blue&Me-based system that enables drivers to minimize their impact on the environment.
Frankfurt, September 11th 2007. At the 62nd International Motor Show in Frankfurt, Fiat Group Automobiles and Microsoft are set to unveil "Eco Drive".
The EcoDrive solution, spearheaded by Fiat Group Automobiles, demonstrates that an auto maker's environmental responsibility should not stop when the car leaves the production line - but extend into the way consumers drive their cars.
Today the official fuel consumption and emission figures of cars, certified by the European Union, are obtained using cars driven by professional drivers on a Roller Dynamometer Test Bench. The test takes place in optimum ambient conditions (fixed temperature, pressure and humidity) on a predefined driving cycle (fixed vehicle speed, time and gear shift points) with air conditioning, radio, lights, and other devices switched off. This ensures the results are comparable. But real emissions levels are substantially different. They depend on whether the car is driven in a rural or urban setting and on the condition of the car. And they are also heavily affected by the driver's style.
EcoDrive collects all necessary data relating to vehicle efficiency and, through Blue&Me's USB gate, transmits it into a normal USB key. The driver plugs this into a PC. The "EcoDrive" system presents the driver with detailed environmental performance of the car including the CO2 emission level for each trip. It analyses the driver's style and then provides tips and recommendations on how to modify style to achieve CO2 reductions – and save money on fuel.
EcoDrive will encourage the driver to set himself challenges – CO2 reduction targets for specific journeys or over a set period of time. And in a community site will encourage all drivers to come together and pool their savings - working towards much bigger collective targets and showing that a lot of small contributions join to have a massive impact.
Based on the award winning, jointly developed Blue&Me™ platform, "EcoDrive" will enable drivers to better understand and adapt their driving behaviors to minimize their effect on the environment.
The partnership between Microsoft and Fiat was initiated nearly four years ago and has seen the solution rolled out across the Fiat, Alfa Romeo, Iveco and Lancia ranges. This latest ecological application was developed on Microsoft's flexible and updateable platform Microsoft Auto, which Fiat has innovated upon to together with Microsoft create the in-car infotainment solution Blue&Me™. "EcoDrive" will be available from 2008 in certain Fiat cars equipped with the Blue&Me system and marks yet another step in the innovative collaboration between Fiat Group Automobiles and Microsoft.
Please click here www.fiat.com/ecodrive to see the video that will introduce EcoDrive at the Fiat stand.
Frankfurt, September 11th 2007. At the 62nd International Motor Show in Frankfurt, Fiat Group Automobiles and Microsoft are set to unveil "Eco Drive".
The EcoDrive solution, spearheaded by Fiat Group Automobiles, demonstrates that an auto maker's environmental responsibility should not stop when the car leaves the production line - but extend into the way consumers drive their cars.
Today the official fuel consumption and emission figures of cars, certified by the European Union, are obtained using cars driven by professional drivers on a Roller Dynamometer Test Bench. The test takes place in optimum ambient conditions (fixed temperature, pressure and humidity) on a predefined driving cycle (fixed vehicle speed, time and gear shift points) with air conditioning, radio, lights, and other devices switched off. This ensures the results are comparable. But real emissions levels are substantially different. They depend on whether the car is driven in a rural or urban setting and on the condition of the car. And they are also heavily affected by the driver's style.
EcoDrive collects all necessary data relating to vehicle efficiency and, through Blue&Me's USB gate, transmits it into a normal USB key. The driver plugs this into a PC. The "EcoDrive" system presents the driver with detailed environmental performance of the car including the CO2 emission level for each trip. It analyses the driver's style and then provides tips and recommendations on how to modify style to achieve CO2 reductions – and save money on fuel.
EcoDrive will encourage the driver to set himself challenges – CO2 reduction targets for specific journeys or over a set period of time. And in a community site will encourage all drivers to come together and pool their savings - working towards much bigger collective targets and showing that a lot of small contributions join to have a massive impact.
Based on the award winning, jointly developed Blue&Me™ platform, "EcoDrive" will enable drivers to better understand and adapt their driving behaviors to minimize their effect on the environment.
The partnership between Microsoft and Fiat was initiated nearly four years ago and has seen the solution rolled out across the Fiat, Alfa Romeo, Iveco and Lancia ranges. This latest ecological application was developed on Microsoft's flexible and updateable platform Microsoft Auto, which Fiat has innovated upon to together with Microsoft create the in-car infotainment solution Blue&Me™. "EcoDrive" will be available from 2008 in certain Fiat cars equipped with the Blue&Me system and marks yet another step in the innovative collaboration between Fiat Group Automobiles and Microsoft.
Please click here www.fiat.com/ecodrive to see the video that will introduce EcoDrive at the Fiat stand.
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