ECO peddal

[flapdoodle]

August 4, 2008: 9:52 AM EDT

TOKYO (AP) -- Nissan Motor Co. will soon sell cars that push back when drivers try to put the pedal to the metal.

The Japanese carmaker Monday announced its new "ECO Pedal" system, which makes the gas pedal press upward when it senses motorists are speeding up too quickly.

Nissan (NSANY) said in a press release the system, which will be available next year, can help drivers improve fuel efficiency 5% to 10%.

http://money.cnn.com/2008/08/04/news...g.ap/index.htm

A poor-man's version could easily be made with a microswitch on the throttle linkage and LED on the dashboard.

[theholycow]

How would that help? Either it's not strong enough to fight the driver and won't accomplish anything, or they've effectively limited the power of the engine -- and if that's the case then why not just put in a less powerful engine...

[Jay2TheRescue]

Originally Posted by theholycow

How would that help? Either it's not strong enough to fight the driver and won't accomplish anything, or they've effectively limited the power of the engine -- and if that's the case then why not just put in a less powerful engine...

My understanding of the system is that it doesn't prevent you from doing WOT, it just increases the amount of force required to push the pedal. You could also adjust the throttle linkage so WOT was not even possible...

-Jay

[theholycow]

Yeh, that's what I meant by "it's not strong enough". I suppose it could help people who care about FE but are completely oblivious...

[Jay2TheRescue]

Originally Posted by theholycow

Yeh, that's what I meant by "it's not strong enough". I suppose it could help people who care about FE but are completely oblivious...

LOL, like my mother who averaged 24 in a K car? Even as a teenager and knowing nothing about hypermiling I was able to reset the trip computer and have it read almost 30 MPG average when I drove it. Knowing what I know now I'm sure I could average almost 40 in a fuel injected K car.

-Jay

[dkjones96]

The Cobalt kinda has something like this. The further you press the pedal the more resistance it offers. I hated it. I'm 23 and it was annoyingly uncomfortable to use wot in the car.

It was my grandma's car and I really don't think she has the strength to run that thing wide open very long or often. Power brakes is the only reason she can safely even drive the thing.

[Lug_Nut]

Two fuel saving devices:
Free: push the seat back one more notch.
Low cost: add another throttle return spring.