Ford’s 2010 Fusion teaches more fuel efficient driving
Anyone who drives a hybrid knows that squeezing more gas mileage out of a tank of gas is an art form. In order to help teach that art form, Ford is installing SmartGauge with EcoGuide into the 2010 Ford Fusion.
The Fusion uses the SmartGauge instrument cluster as a teaching tool. SmartGauge with EcoGuide is composed of two full color gauges that flank both sides of the speedometer. These liquid crystal displays (LCDs) can show the driver fuel and battery power levels and both the average and instant miles per gallon.
The SmartGauge system can be set in tutorial mode. In tutorial mode, SmartGauge panel depicts leaves and vines growing to reward fuel efficient driving. The more leaves and vines, the more efficient the driving and the higher the miles per gallon.
SmartGauge with EcoGuide is similar to the LCD panel set to the right of the instrument panel in Toyota Prius. The panel in the Prius can be switched to show either a bar graph of miles per gallon usage every five minutes with the average miles per gallon for the total distance driven on one tank of gas. Or, a graphic of the engine and battery showing energy use and recharging along with instant miles per gallon that changes from moment to moment.
Owning a Prius, I can attest to the powerful effect such gauges have on how one drives. My entire driving style has drastically changed since owning my Prius.
I watch the gauges and modify my driving to improve both my overall miles per gallon per tank and my energy usage. When my battery power level appears low on the LCD, I will purposefully drive around in areas where the conditions require me to apply my brakes frequently to recharge my battery. The LCD display lets me know when I have optimally recharged the battery.
Displays like the SmartGauge and the Toyota Prius LCD display, help drivers learn better driving habits quicker than any book or driving instructor. If every car and truck had such gauges, drivers would probably be getting better gas mileage even in non-hybrid vehicles.
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December 25th, 2008
Not enough credit is being given to the high gas prices this past year and it’s serious damage on our economy and society. That one factor alone has caused serious stress in both individuals and businesses. A record number of homes and jobs have been lost as a direct result. And, while we are doing the happy dance around the lower prices at the pumps OPEC is announcing cuts to manipulate the prices upward again. We must get on with becoming energy independent.We can’t take another year like this past. There is a wonderful new book out about the energy crisis and what it would take for America to become energy independent. It covers every aspect of oil, what it’s uses are besides gasoline, our reserves, our depletion of it. Every type of alternative energy is covered and it’s potential to replace oil. He even has proposed legislative agenda’s that would be necessary to implement these changes along with time frames. This book is profoundly informative and our country needs to become more informed and move forward with becoming energy independent. Green technology would not only provide clean cheap energy it would create millions of badly needed new jobs. The Book is called The Manhattan Project of 2009 Energy Independence NOW. Our politicians all need to read this book. http://www.themanhattanprojectof2009.com