We Want Fuel Economy Feedback in All Cars
by Michael Graham Richard, Gatineau, Canada on 07. 5.05
HybridBlog recently wrote about an idea that I had a while ago: Putting a mpg-meter, fuel economy gauge, fuel consumption feedback – call it what you want – in all cars. It's a small thing, but I think it could make a huge difference cumulatively. An excellent quote by Jamais Cascio of WorldChanging summarizes the situation: "One important reason why hybrid cars result in better mileage is that drivers suddenly have an indication of how various aspects of their driving habits shape mileage. Hybrid mailing lists are filled with people taking about "driver break-in periods" as new drivers, given immediate feedback from the car, learn how to drive in a mileage-optimal fashion. Most hybrid drivers see a steady improvement in mileage over the first year because of this."
Not only that, but if non-hybrid cars had these feedback devices, car owners would realize how bad their real-world mileage is. There's a strange disconnect when people constantly bitch that Priuses don't get the EPA estimate mpg figures in the real world, yet they don't question these EPA figures for their own gas-powered cars. If they are angry that a Prius doesn't get the EPA's 60 mpg in the city but only 45-50, even calling it false publicity, how angry would they be to learn the real-world fuel economy of their 20-25 mpg EPA rated cars/SUVs?
A lot of things have an influence on the fuel economy of a car: Driving style, weather (mileage can drop quite a bit during winter), tire pressure (we wrote about that), badly tuned engine, carrying unnecessary weight in the car, idling, cold engine & catalytic converter, etc. The driver can have an influence on many of these factors, but he won't do anything if he's not aware that he's getting sub-optimal mileage. Sadly, most people just assume that their car gets the sticker mpg, or worse, they don't even think about it (something else that a little fuel economy screen on the dash would help change).
With instant feedback – like in hybrid cars – things are different. If you see your mileage graph take a plunge after you race from a stop, accelerate unevenly or brake at the last minute without coasting, you'll think about your wallet (or see it as a game, like many hybrid drivers, and try to beat your record) and adapt your style. If you care at all about how much gas you buy, either for monetary or ecological reasons, this feedback will gradually change the way you drive and turn you into a more fuel efficient driver.
Five months ago, I wrote this: "Now there's something inexpensive [mpg-meter] that could be fitted on all cars and make a big difference. I believe that this would lead to much saner driving habits from all the well-intentioned people out there who just don't realize the impact that their driving style has on the fuel-efficiency of their cars. [...] With a MPG gauge in all cars, people would know that they are getting crappy mileage; they'd see the effect of racing from stop signs to the next red-light. A minority of people would not change their driving habits, but most people want to spend less on gas, not more."
I had a friend in high school in the mid-80's who had an old step van. I think the van was probably built around the time of 1973-ish gas "crisis" because it had a big meter on the dash that showed fuel economy. It wasn't anything as fancy as the Prius has, with a digital readout. But it did have a needle that would swing way over from the middle region to the piss poor region whenever my friend stepped on the gas pedal.
We thought it was pretty funny, because there was hardly anything the driver could do to visibly affect the fuel economy displayed on this gauge. The van was so heavy and the engine was so inefficient that you had to floor it just to overcome the friction of the wheels on the pavement.
So, you basically had two levels of fuel economy - "Good" when sitting still with the engine idling and "Bad" at all other times.
The gauge in question was a vacuum gauge.
Simple fact: when the engine is running with a high level of vacuum (the throttle is actually choking off the airflow into the engine, limiting it), the engine is using as little fuel as possible at that speed. When you romp on the pedal, you open up the throttle, which allows a much greater airflow through the carb (I'm assuming, due to its age, the van had a carb), which means greater fuel consumption. It was a decent indicator of RELATIVE fuel economy. Actual fuel economy could be gauged from airflow (as the carb typically kept a particular fuel-air ratio; more airflow = more fuel flow), the engine speed (RPM) and the gear ratio.
Modern, fuel-injected engines typically have a Manifold Absolute Pressure (MAP) sensor, which provides a similar reading. If there were a way to display this reading (instead of merely sending to the Engine Control Unit), it could provide a cheap, easy way to get a simiar indicator. Many of the modern, digital ECU's can provide this information (for testing/diagnostic purposes), real-time, in digital format, so it shouldn't be TOO difficult to make a gizmo which reads the code-reader port, requests the realtime MAP data, and drives some kind of display, based on it.
Of course, such a gizmo could also get engine RPM and Airflow readings, which could provide a more accurate fuel-flow reading. And, since most modern vehicles use the same code-reader port, one model of this gizmo would work on a wide variety of vehicles.
My SAAB 9000 has a fuel milage feature as part of a digital readout feature located beneath the speedometer. In addition to the overall fuel consumption, there is also a dynamic horizontal bar readout that gives intantaneous fuel comsumption data. This enables you to adjust your driving style to maximize mpg. another advantage of the system is that it will accurately predict miles-until-empty. This has been an option or standard equipment since 1986, and is available on current 9-5 models and possibly 9-3's.
By paying attention, you can calibrate specific speeds and conditions with various milages. It turns out that a steady state 85mph yields about the same milage as 65mph, though it dips substantially at speeds in between.
Older studies determined that maximum fuel milage is obtained with constant, moderate throttle settings at speeds between 35 - 45 mph, and avoidance or braking and acceleration. The key is to maximize (or optimize) velocity while minimizing wind drag and tire rolling resistance. In the '70's BMW determined that optimum fuel consumption could be achieved by rapidly shifting to the highest gear feasible, given road conditions.
My dad had a car with this. We called it the "no fun gauge"- if you pressed the accellerator lightly enough to keep it out of the redline you were having no fun at all.
My 2003 Volvo S40 has all this info via the trip computer.
Info it gives: outside temp, instantaneous fuel consumption, avg. fuel consumption, distance left on fuel etc.
It's has helped me understand more efficient ways of driving and has greatly helped lower my fuel consumption.
Such data is great to encourage better habits even among those already interested. Nirvana is 999999 on downhills on rental cars or beating the EPA ratings on Honda Civic hybrids. YES !
BMW and Fiat had this simple thing, but it was too sincere
1992 Volkwagen Jetta GTX's also had a fuel consumption readout for elapsed current trip and cumulative distances.
I can attest to it's effectiveness in moderating your speed and driving practises.
Furthermore, it was just a parameter that was built into the engine management system for all Jettas, but displayed as an upmarket feature for that higher cost model.
Glad to see that I'm not alone in enjoying having feedback on fuel economy. I hope carmakers are paying attention (well, those that don't profit by hiding how much gas their vehicles use).
The real solution would probably come from a governmental regulation, though.
Can anyone help me. I have been searching for a mpg meter which can be installed into any vehicle, (which does not have a device fitted as standard). Would anyone know of a product currently available on the market which is affordable and most importantly accurate and can service both diesel and petrol vehicles?
I am aware that there are makes for boats and planes etc., and have details for these.
Thanks kindly. Ken. NZ
Hear, hear!
It doesn't even matter if an mpg gauge is not very accurate, so long as it gives the driver an incentive to do better. I used to have an Audi A4 diesel which - according to the magazines - should have given me an average of 48 mpg (that's British gallons). With a gentle right foot and the encouragement of the gauge, I (apparently) got an excellent 52.1 mpg over the time I had the car (about 44 miles per US gallon?).
Please look up the word 'Hydristor' on Google. I can fix the whole damn mess by changing all the torque converters in every car and truck on the highways! I can also make electricity with a super Freon Hydristor heat pump driving a Stirling running a generator with the input being the Sun's heat in the air, just like Niagara Falls! Not perpetual motion. I need
lots of help. regards Tom Kasmer
http://www.hydristor.com
ps: My Hydristor will also easily replace manual shift applications too.
Thomas Kasmer, Hey I heard you on the radio. I'll take one of your gizmos if you send it over. I will even advertise for you. It will be going into a 1967 Nova with a 350. For all the treehuggers, I am keeping it out of the dump and it gets better mileage and better emissions than the old truck I am driving now. (can't afford a new car yet) You can still chastise me though.
And here I thought I just had this brilliant insight all on my own! The key is clearly realtime feedback to the driver that permits (but does not force) adjustment of driving style in repsonse to information on fuel efficiency. Several contributors have confirmed the effect on behavior. While there is no guarantee that such information will change wasteful behavior, driving habits sure won't change in the absence of this feedback. What is needed is an approach, probably via legislation, that mandates the placing of such fuel efficiency gauges - preferably with a big, bright digital display - on ALL vehicles sold in the United States. This will entail finding sponsors for such a bill in the House or Senate, likely from the membership of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee or the Senate equivalent (Commerce?). It will also require the formation of a coalition of interest groups and individuals to bring greater prominence to this incredibly simple but effective step. AAA might be a good place to start. Any other ideas as to sponsoring or umbrella organizations for this effort? Can probably expect the auto industry to oppose - but not too hard in the current climate. Even some of the petroleum companies might be willing to support such good corporate citizenship. After all, they will still be able to sell as much as they can produce.
I am designing and building the Hydristor torque converters in several sizes, and with adapters, they will fit every vehicle on the road. This could be done in 5 years and we would cut the national use of oil in half. The Hydristor also obsoletes the current crop of hybrids by causing conventional vehicles to get hybrid and above mileage, and totally running away from everything
not so equipped at the stoplight. Emissions are also cut. The Hydristor heat pump/generator will harvest solar heat in the air and create self sustaining electricity generation with no fuel and no emissions. See my website www.hydristor.com Tom Kasmer
First of all, anyone advocating even more government meddling, by mandating mpg meters in all cars, needs to take a breather. New cars are expensive enough already, and politicians (should) have better things to do.
Just buy a Scan Gauge (www.scangauge.com). This $130 device plugs into the standard OBD2 port that's present on nearly all cars sold in the U.S. since '96 and displays a variety of data (including instantaneous mpg) that's already being tracked by your vehicle's built-in computer.
I had already improved my car's highway mileage from the EPA-rated 29 mpg to over 40 mpg by just setting the cruise control to 55-60 mph instead of 75 mph (and don't anyone DARE start advocating lower speed limits - when a loved one was dying in the hospital last year I was GRATEFUL to get there at 75-80 mph & have more time with her). After installing the ScanGauge I additionally saw how poor my mileage is when starting from a standstill, and how good it is when coasting, and have adjusted my driving habits accordingly (trying to minimize the former & maximize the latter). The device isn't pretty, but it's definitely useful.
Please see U. S. Patent 4,247,757
Go to www.uspt.gov/patft/ and type in the patent #
Thanks
That link didn't work, but this one did:
http://patft.uspto.gov/netahtml/srchnum.htm
Wow, you designed this device? Great idea! I hope it becomes more widespread. As a satisfied customer, I'm encouraging more people to get this or similar devices.
I greatly appreciated my mpg info on my 2003 Honda Civic hybrid (104,000 mi, avg 48.6 mpg) & my 2006 is also great. What I want is a big mpg gauge for my 2006 Mercedes Sprinter diesel. All I can find is Scan Gauge II for $165 which plugs into OBDII outlet. What a ridiculous price ! Where can I get a simple mpg gauge for $30 ?
The scangauge.com meter does work, but I don't think anyone is going to go from 20 to 40MPG. The original post is right on. *All* the data the meter needs is already in your onboard computer. Fortunately, the govt standardized the readout ports (at objections from GM) so this sort of meter is available.
BTW, you can also read out trouble faults and move the unit from one car to another... though you will have to recalibrate the device. (Maybe 2 or 3 tanks of fuel for reasonable accuracy.) Your onboard computer knows your speed, RPMs and how much fuel it's injecting... so can compute other functions such as MPG. Thus, this gauge could be on the dash of every car. (The computer on most cars already feeds all your other data, such as speed engine temp, etc.) BTW, you can monitor several functions on this unit at the same time. It might have avoided $1K in service bills to find my intermittent O2 sensor... a new unit that was failing at times.
I have used a MPG guage..ie vaccum gauge bought years ago from JC Whitney out of chicago..do a google search..goes for about 25 bucks now.but I bought it for about 10 bucks way back when....
Just bought one at the local flea market for one buck..I knew what it was..as soon as I saw it.
The only bad thing is its made out of plastic and tends to break. I had 3 of these so far.
and yes it just gives me an idea of the mileage i am getting but works well..esp to help me get the best mpg . it is also adjustable.
I just never connected the light wire but can see the needle from the dash lights.
I just ordered that ScanGauge II thing, it looks pretty good. It 's a bit expensive, but think about it... How much do you really spend on your car in gas, then compare that to buying this one thing with a massive amount of options that you only pay for once. It's not much. I've been doing a lot of research on gas mileage and engine efficiency including biobiesel and home made alcohol for in cars. It's way easier than you think. I have done some mods to my 2004 Cavalier and improved the power as well as the horsepower, and these mods cost me absolutely nothing. I even invented a system that can filter all of the particulate matter and some chemicals out of car exhaust or truck exhaust, and I tested a small model with very good results and now I'm working on a full functioning prototype to install in my car.
It should be required by law for all cars produced to have cruise control, gas mileage gauges etc, and ram air intakes. No questions asked. Those things can help, even though the gauge only tells you things, it doesn't directly affect mileage, you would do that as far as the gauge goes. I'm also doing research on something called a Joe Cell. I don't know exactly how it works, and I don't think most people that make one really know how it works. Look it up, it seems promising, and oil companies are trying to shut down research and threatening people because it's that good. It's up to us to all research this kind of stuff, we out number them by far and they cant take us all down. Go for it, this world, particularly the US, is in need for some serious reform and no one is stepping up and doing anything.
Joe Cell
EVER consider that JOE ( no name) posted all the BS on
oil company attacks , him self?
did you know that anyone can do that, it is easy as pie
to suck google spiders in to your data base of BS.
Did you know the DOE and Nasa both have huge rewards for make a way to create cheap hydrogen.
And other issues too?
so ever wonder why none of the Dorks never apply for the reward. there are many.
so in fact the oil companies are not supressing (asside from public bs of there own) any thing and most governemtns and even companies have open reward systems.
I say Put up or shut up.
No Peer review studies, it is not real.
but how do you get peer reviewed, committy of garage dorks.? hummmmmm
sigh!
I drive a Caravan with the mileage gizmo. I have raised my mileage by 20%, which is important when you have to drive 200 miles a day to work and back.
I have made a 'game' out of trying to get 27 mpg. By driving 40 mph uphill and coasting downhill I'm getting close. It may piss off those behind me but as they race around me, getting 6 mpg, I just smile...
It takes me 10 minutes extra to get to work, but, I save 5 bucks. To me, I'm getting "paid" $60.00 an hour to beat the system.
This weekend I'll fill the tires, change the air filter and shed the excess "baggage". By this time next week I'll hit that elusive 27 mpg...you know its me , I'll be the guy doing 40 and smiling my asssss off.