Fuel Economy Driver Interfaces: Driving Simulator Study of Component Concepts

摘要

A fuel economy driver interface (FEDI) gives a driver an indication of fuel usage or efficiency. Many passenger vehicles in recent model years have FEDIs and they have been included in some vehicle models for decades. FEDIs present fuel economy information in a variety of forms. Some show fuel economy in miles per gallon (mpg) while others provide a relative measure of economy or provide an alert if fuel economy is especially poor. The appearances of FEDIs vary drastically between vehicle makes and models. FEDIs can provide numerical output, analog or digital gauges, bar charts, illuminator lamps, and a variety of other display features. With the recent emergence of high-resolution LCD screens in cars, detailed and complex color displays are possible, and these make feasible a variety of new FEDI concepts. FEDIs may even include vehicle-adaptive features that influence some aspect of vehicle performance in response to inefficient driver behaviors.