Real-Time Gas Gauges Coming to More Cars

Toyota already includes fuel economy gauges on its hybrids that let drivers know whether the car is running on electricity or gas, but it’s also investigating whether to include similar gauges on all its cars and trucks.

The idea would be to let drivers know how their driving practices affect their mileage. Several other car companies already offer variations on this idea.

Already popular among many cars are readouts that display the car’s miles per gallon at any given moment. Nissan has plans to extend its fuel-efficiency meter (which it says can cut gas use by 10%) to its entire lineup. Ford has an electronic bar chart in the dashboard of its Mustang, Edge and Fusion that measures fuel efficiency. Chrysler and GM have similar displays that indicate when a car is putting its fuel to the best use, and some Honda cars use a light that glows during the most efficient driving.

The question for Toyota and others is whether or not to make such an indicator — whatever its form — standard. If drivers pay attention to such readouts and displays, the feature could prove friendly to both the consumer and the environment. Still, will those readouts distract them from where their attention should be: the road?

Fuel Economy Gauges Could Avoid Wasteful Driving (Detroit Free Press)

Comments

[LARRY]

I think this is a good idea, but only as an option. Some people could care less.

[LM]

I think it should be standard, and should be in your face. I think people who don't care about it are the ones who would be most impacted by it when they have right there.

[ZB]

As far as I know, you can purchase a similar gizmo/gadget for your home that let's you know how much electricity you're consuming.

Offering this feature in a car just increases the price. A lot of fuel conservation is just common sense. However, one thing in the paper did surprise me.

I guess it's not wise to drive your car/truck with the windows down. You think you're saving money turning the air-conditioning off during cooler summer days and nights, but you're not. With the windows up, and the air-conditioning on, there's less wind resistance. You're actually saving money. Kinda surprising!

[LARRY]

@ZB,

That depends on where you live. And how does running the a/c give you less wind resistance?
Oh, and for the truck owners, the gate up saves more gas.

[Brooke]

The Scion xD has this feature standard also. It was very convenient when I test drove it.

[J]

I just wish they had it standard. So that those losers who burns more gas than they should will learn something.

This could prove to have a lot of gas saving advantages, but when it messes up, it could prove to be a big headache to fix, and theres people out there who won't care if it messes up and theres others who will have a heart attack if it does.

[Doug G]

HAhahahahahhaahha...

Sorry, I just had to laugh at the people who think this will be a big moral lesson for people who are "using more gas than they should".

[LM]

It's totally psychological - some will hover over the gauge and others will glance at it from time to time and I bet you their driving habits will change.

Driving with windows down at low speeds is better than having the A/C on - it's at higher speeds where drag will out consume A/C.

[Larry Rose]

I also think is should be standard. The cost increase is minor, and its silly to think that peoples opinions about its importance wont change overs the cars life. With Peal Oil looming (or here now), a lot of people who don't care @ $3.00/gal might begin to @ $4.00+/gal.

[ZB]

According to this article, having your windows down produces too much drag. I guess the engine has to rev up and compensate for more wind resistance.

I read this article several months ago in the paper. I can't remember all of the specifics, but I do remember this one. Where one lives is not a factor.

[Pete]

This is an old idea. Back in the '70s Datsun (Nissan) and others had a vacuum gauge which supposedly showed when you were wasting fuel by measuring the manifold vacuum.

It was almost impossible to drive with the needle in the economy zone - unless you had your foot off the gas, and nobody I know had a wreck watching the gauge. Perhaps we were a bit smarter then.

I can't see how an economy meter can be more distracting than the modern nav system where you have to take your eyes off the road for 30 seconds just to make a minor a/c adjustment...

(Includes refocusing latency for those of us with presbyopia and can remember the 1970's...)

[Graham]

If they must put a gauge in, so be it (it can be easily ignored), but there's no way in heck I would put up with a light which flashes on and off.

Most people still don't seem to understand that the biggest single factor in fuel consumption is their choice of vehicle. No gauges, flashing lights, driving style, snake-oil gadgets or whatever can make a gas guzzler into an economical vehicle. If you want low fuel consumption, you need to buy a vehicle with intrinsically low fuel consumption.

[J]

Graham,

You see, when I was at fueleconomy.gov
I just looked at my own car, and the numbers posted there had a huge difference even within the same vehicle with the same mechanical setups (except trim levels, which ranges maximum 200 pounds difference, where mine is the fully loaded one)
You can look it up too, the 2007 Civic 1.8L AT
My number is 34mpg, while someone is hitting at 19mpg.
That's a whopping 15mpg to that person in just one fill-up.
Think about if the same person drives like that for like 5 years and I drive mine for 5 years. What will the difference be?

To those who think it is going to increase price of the vehicle. Think again with those airbags and ABS when they were offered as options, and the best example is the mendatory (mandetory?) tire pressure warning system that are on every 08 model. Are they really necessary just because some of us are THAT LAZY?!

[ZB]

I agree with Graham. One important factor in reducing fuel consumption IS the choice of vehicle.

Another important factor is slowing down and coasting whenever possible.

As of yet, most drivers have no interest in saving gas. The posted speed limit on freeways is 55 mph, and almost everyone drives 70 mph. In fact, quite a few drivers drive 80 mph.

As of yet, most drivers do not coast when they see a red stoplight up ahead. I'm one of the very few drivers coasting at reduced speeds, when I see a red stoplight up ahead. Coasting seems to irritate other drivers for some reason. The only possible explanation that crosses my mind is that they're running late.

This device is not necessary, when drivers know what driving habits and patterns can reduce fuel consumption.

We all know our government has a huge deficit. Electronic billboards posting the current deficit numbers haven't worked in reducing the deficit. These electronic billboards are a waste of money, just like this device is a waste of money.

We all know what to do, and we don't do it.

[J]

ZB,

"This device is not necessary, when drivers know what driving habits and patterns can reduce fuel consumption."

You see, you have pointed out why the device is necessary. Because a lot of people really don't know there is a HUGE difference if they just coast when they should.
There's a local mile road around my place, where the speed limit is 50, and if you set the cruise control at around 52 (+/-1), you would have meet every light when they are green. Guess what? People raced to the light at 55 and jammed their brakes while I slowly pass them on 1 of the 4 lanes that I like.

[ZB]

Drivers should use common sense.

If you eat too much, and don't excercise, you're going to gain weight. It's a no-brainer.

Saving gas, and driving at slower speeds, makes sense.