Fiat and Microsoft Introduce “EcoDrive”
11 September 2007
Fiat Group Automobiles and Microsoft unveiled “Eco Drive”, a data-collection and transmission system designed to gather vehicle efficiency data and analyze car performance and driver style.
EcoDrive collects all necessary data relating to vehicle efficiency and, through Blue&Me’s USB gate, transmits it into a standard USB key. The driver plugs this into a PC. The EcoDrive system presents the driver with detailed environmental performance of the car including the CO2 emission level for each trip. It analyses the driver’s style and then provides tips and recommendations on how to modify style to achieve CO2 reductions and save money on fuel.
EcoDrive will encourage the driver to set self-challenges such as CO2 reduction targets for specific journeys or over a set period of time. A community site will encourage all drivers to come together and pool their savings, working towards much bigger collective targets and showing that a lot of small contributions join to have a large impact.
EcoDrive will be available from 2008 in certain Fiat cars equipped with the Blue&Me system. Blue&Me, first introduced at the Geneva Motor Show in 2006, is an automotive telematic solution based on Windows Mobile for Automotive.
"When performance is measured, performance improves."
Having said that, people could probably make more of a difference by just checking their tire pressure weekly.
Posted by: BlackSun | 11 September 2007 at 11:20 AM
Fiat and Microsoft - a quality match made in heaven.
Posted by: jack | 11 September 2007 at 06:55 PM
christ, could they have picked someone other than microsoft for this system? please?
Posted by: lensovet | 11 September 2007 at 10:37 PM