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Nissan ECO Pedal puts pressure on lead foots
As if "shift lights" weren't annoying enough... Nissan's new "ECO pedal" has been engineered to encourage good fuel economy with a servo-actuated gas pedal that will push back on the driver's lead foot when on-board computers detect wasteful acceleration. According to Nissan, vehicles equipped with the ECO pedal, and real-time fuel consumption gauges in the instrument panel, have returned a 5-10 percent increase in fuel efficiency. The Japanese automaker says it has plans to begin installing the ECO pedal in models next year, although there is no word on what models, or markets, will get the system. We're betting it's an option unlikely to show up on the GT-R anytime in the near future.
[Source: Reuters]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
notYou 2:13PM (8/04/2008)
Will burned out actuators from relentless pushing be covered under warranty?
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NOreasonY 1:34PM (8/04/2008)
I think it would be a decent option if one could toggle it on and off.
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toronado455 1:42PM (8/04/2008)
My thoughts exactly. As with all these computer-controlled automated systems, there needs to be a way to shut it off and "use the force".
tuna 1:43PM (8/04/2008)
I think it would help people become more mindless as drivers. Can't stand these nanny systems.
stretchsje 2:45PM (8/04/2008)
What's the point of having torque if it isn't available? Instead of having a car with a big engine that resists letting the driver use it, just recalibrate the electronic throttle body position against the gas pedal feedback. So many cars jump to high throttle inputs with just tiny pedal inputs to make the tiny engines feel more eager to pull. Get rid of that and let drivers think for themselves.
For those that truly want every fuel-efficiency band-aid, it makes much more sense to just use a smaller, more fuel-efficient engine (perhaps an Atkinson-cycle, like hybrids) that you can drive at its limits. Engines are very inefficient when restrained to partial throttle, which this technology seems designed to maintain.
Stephen 1:36PM (8/04/2008)
With fire! Kill it with fire!
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xpolarx 3:25PM (8/04/2008)
Indeed...someone needs to curb the rampant proliferation of fascism in the automotive industry. All these "big brother" features -- like this, or the GTR's speed governor in Japan -- piss me off. If you don't know how to properly modulate a gas pedal so the car gets more than 5 mpg, you deserve the discomfort of paying $80 a week for gas.
Benfolio 1:38PM (8/04/2008)
"Wasteful acceleration"?
And just how does it know the difference between someone drag racing a Civic from a stoplight from trying to get out of the way of that semi that just careened into your lane?
Stupid technology.
If we want to save fuel, we know how to drive accordingly. Stop trying to MAKE us get 90MPG.
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IK47 3:24PM (8/04/2008)
you know, it doesn't FORCE you to drive efficiently
it just has a system of HELPING you use the appropriate amount of throttle
of course, I'm sure this system will come with an off switch
Brent 2:39PM (8/04/2008)
I agree!
Joce03 4:55PM (8/04/2008)
I agree: This is useless tech, and potentially dangerous. What happens if you're trying to pass, try to floor the throttle but it doesn't let you?
The Luigiian 1:40PM (8/04/2008)
I want one on my car.
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TJ 2:13PM (8/04/2008)
Add a heavier duty throttle return spring. Problem solved.
The Luigiian 2:14PM (8/04/2008)
Touche.
BlackCanary 1:42PM (8/04/2008)
As if the annoyance of circa 1980's auto-seatbelts or the nanny-alarms were not bad enough.
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bill 1:48PM (8/04/2008)
Now I am beginning to get a little pissed off. What happens when the throttle is floored to make a pass of a hybrid car with a driver thinking he is saving the planet? Our personal freedoms are being taken away in the name of stupidity. Too bad we can't use stupidity to power our vehicles because stupidity is the one true renewable resource.
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mk 1:58PM (8/04/2008)
Welcome to the legion of the people pissed off at stupidity masquerading as fashionable policy.
We welcome all who know that we are being sold a bill of goods that is crap.
The stupidity is so pervasive that Nissan thinks this is a good idea, with no "help" from the government.
Marques 1:58PM (8/04/2008)
You won't need to "floor it" to get past a hybrid. Ha-ha. The system won't even kick in by the time you pass a hybrid. Now passing something with a kick instead of a hybrid (i.e Chevy Aveo) you might get some push-back from the pedal. Hahaha
BlackCanary 1:59PM (8/04/2008)
This is one very silly gadget and I see little use for it but it is not infringing on freedom. There is no law that forces everyone to use the system or for it to be mandatory on a new car. You can always not buy a Nissan configured with the system. Now, if a law DOES make this a manadatory car device (like a catalytic converter) than I agree with you and this would be a freedom issue.
amnigo 2:03PM (8/04/2008)
Not saying I like this system or not, but I don't think you're losing your freedom to buy something other than a Nissan. This isn't government-required equipment.
And it's not clear in the article, but this might also be optional equipment.