Fiat launches eco:Drive software
Thursday, October 9th, 2008Fiat has launched a new device in Europe, which could help motorists get better fuel economy from their cars. Called the ‘eco:Drive,’ the system gives drivers an accurate insight into how a motorist’s driving style influences his/her car’s fuel consumption, and helps them drive more efficiently, thus saving money spent on fuel.
The eco:Drive software works using Fiat’s Blue&Me proprietary entertainment and communications system. Plugging any USB key into the Blue&Me port allows eco:Drive to record detailed information about the vehicle’s efficiency and your driving style during a journey. The information can then be read by plugging the USB key into your computer when you’ve finished driving.
Users can analyse fuel consumption and emissions for each journey made, and receive advice on how to drive more efficiently, reducing their impact on the environment. eco:Drive will give you a score out of 100 - your eco:Index - to show how efficiently you have driven, based on your acceleration, deceleration, gear changes and speed. A series of tutorials will help you to improve your score, showing you how to perfect your driving using detailed information from your own journeys.
Drivers who start eco:Driving can expect to improve their driving efficiency by up to 15 percent. That means a 15 percent reduction in CO2 emissions and in fuel costs. Fiat has also created ecoVille, a unique online community populated by all eco:Drivers from around the world. Users will be able to share tips, watch the community grow, and see just how much CO2 they are all saving together.
The Fiat 500 and Grande Punto are the first Fiat Group vehicles to use eco:Drive, and the system is available to download and install now, free of charge. In 2009, eco:Drive will be extended to the rest of the Fiat range equipped with Blue&Me. The eco:Drive system will also be open to feedback from users, which will help Fiat to update the application and make it even more useful in future.
