Nissan ECO Pedal system keeps lead-foot drivers in check
August 5, 2008 by George Skentzos
No matter how economical a car may appear on paper, these best case scenario figures rarely translate to the real world often due to poor driving style.
To make sure all its clever fuel efficient engineering doesn’t go to waste, Nissan has demonstrated its new ECO Pedal technology to keep a watchful eye over lead-footed drivers.
When the ECO Pedal system is activated, it receives data on the rate of fuel consumption and transmission efficiency during acceleration and cruising, and then calculates the optimum acceleration rate.
If the system detects excess or unnecessary pressure, it responds by pushing back the driver’s foot through the pedal – but of course it can be completely deactivated.
At the same time, an eco-driving indicator integrated into the instrument panel feeds the driver with real-time fuel consumption levels to help improve their driving behaviour.
Nissan hopes to launch this new technology by as soon as 2009, with research showing the new system can improve fuel efficiency by up to 10 percent.
The new system resembles just one portion of a “triple-layer” approach by Nissan that encompasses vehicle technologies, driving behaviour and traffic conditions in the pursuit of real-world efficiency improvements.
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Perhaps Lexus will follow suit(copy)with a similar idiot proofing system.LOL.
Gee,the Japanese are continuing to push that automotive envelope.LOL.
Kia have already introduced a similar thing where a little light in the instument clutster changes colour according to how economically the user is driving.
nice to see the nissan fuga (or its infinity equivalent) – wish they’d bring that to Oz.
anyway, on topic – how does the pedal tell the difference between general lead-footedness and tromping on it to get through an orange light or squeeze into a busy roundabout? Sounds like it may cause more trouble than its worth. because ultimately the pedal can only tell how quickly it is pushed…
The system doesnt restrict acceleration, it merely gives some tactile feedback through the pedal to encourage you to lift off the throttle. You can still floor it when necessary, and if it bothers you that much, switch it off.
Sounds a bit like Mitsubishis adaptive auto-box. Tries to do what it wants to do rather than what you want it to do.
Gosh lots of to’s n do’s.
Infiniti already have this feature in the Infiniti FX35/50 as part of the distance control assist feature.
DCA uses the same sensors as Intelligent Cruise Control to detect the distance to an object ahead. As the vehicle moves closer to the object, the throttle pedal pushes up against the driver’s foot, encouraging deceleration. If the driver is not applying throttle, DCA will gently apply the brakes automatically (up to 25% braking power) to encourage deceleration.
Oh, and the car is a M35/45. In V8 guise it’s a 5 series beater.
Can’t wait to see the ECO Pedal as on option on the GTR. LOL!
“When the ECO Pedal system is activated, it receives data on the rate of fuel consumption and transmission efficiency during acceleration and cruising, and then calculates the optimum acceleration rate.”
This whole idea seems a bit gay, since the optimal acceleration rate for the best fuel economy is to remain at a standstill.
Therefore, any other acceleration rate is NOT optimal, so how can you program a system to pick an optimal set of parameters when it is, by definition, operating in the least optimal range?
During cruising the situation obviously changes, but the program for that should be/could be/already is built into the cruise control, not the accelerometer circuit.
Reckess,
To start with I believe it is about ‘Optimal Throttle position’ to achieve best/required acceleration or cruising speed and NOT the ‘Optimal Acceleration’ as you suggest.
There becomes a point when accelerating (or when cruising at constant speed), where pressing the pedal further and pumping more juice into the engine isn’t going to increase acceleration (or maintain speed).
This has to do with the engine power/size, vehicle weight, road conditions (ie.. windy/uphill/aerodynamics etc)
For example, you might achieve the same acceleration (or maintain a constant speed) at 75% throttle opening that you would at 100%.
Diesel 4WD owners (and probably now TDi cars owners) would probably be able to understand this statement the easiest when trying to achieve better economy.
If you were to accelerate at 100%, then back off until you feel a decrease in acceleration (or a drop off in constant speed), then this is the optimal throttle position.
This is basically the method they use to achieve the ultra low l/100km for the fuel economy runs we see so much of now (eg hyundai i30 etc)
This is the method i used when driving my landcruiser and I am pretty sure is the same idea being implemented by Nissan’s ECO Pedal
Another useless Jap gimmick!!!!
Toyota have had something similar for the last 40 years. The driver just has to put on a knitted woolen jacket – they call it a cardigan.
Gee, they’ve re-invented Holden Manifold Vacuum Guage that featured on VB-VK Commodores when they were too tight to fit a useful guage like a tacho.