Idea: Mileage Feedback to Improve Fuel Efficiency

This is my second consecutive post on using feedback as a form of challenge to improve behavior on the roads.  Last post, my goal was to use a public forum to clean up bad drivers' actions.  This time my goal is to use mileage feedback to clean up the environment.

We all understand the problem that automobiles have regarding high gas prices and their negative impact on the environment.  Many people are demanding broad, expensive solutions like government subsidies for fuel cell development, rebates on hybrid cars, higher fuel efficiency standards, or opening up Alaska for drilling.  But there may be an easier way that simply puts feedback into everyday drivers' hands, thus giving them a form of challenge to lead to huge improvements in efficiency.

The idea comes via "Karl Albrecht from San Diego", writing to BusinessWeek's editors after a story on fuel costs.  Karl's idea is simple:

"Why don't all of our cars now have miles-per-gallon indicators in prominent view of the driver? This instantaneous feedback of driving efficiency could quickly train drivers to operate their vehicles in a fuel-sparing manner. An alarm light or sound, activated by wasteful acceleration, could provide behavior-shaping feedback.  Most modern cars get maximum fuel efficiency at speeds between 35 and 55 mph, so an incentive to drive less than 55 would save huge amounts of fuel nationally and would likely reduce the death rate by 5,000 to 10,000 fatalities a year (as the 55-mph national limit did several decades ago). Such a device could potentially repay its costs within a few months."

I can't vouch for Karl's data, but his hypothesis is absolutely brilliant.  Everyday driving habits have a huge impact on fuel efficiency.  But people have no feedback on how they are helping or hurting the problem.  Similar to my previous post on how feedback helps the golf swing, a simple gauge could show people their real-time efficiency, and lead to habits that reduce fuel, improve the environment, and save a few lives.  And again, the cost is insignificant.

In addition to fuel efficiency, breakthroughs in feedback could help improvement on many fronts.  For example, genetic profiling or ongoing health maintenance might lead to better daily health choices.  And energy that is priced in real time could drive consumers to shift how they use appliances. 

Sometimes we can solve the biggest problems by simply giving information to the people who make decisions every day.

Comments

[Jay Woffington]

Interesting concept. I actually have a MPG reading in my obnoxious SUV (usually reads about 15MPG for perspective). This does not affect my driving habits (yes, I'm the guy that cut you off last Friday) because the difference is irrelevant - If I improve my driving and therefore improve my fuel efficency by 13% (up 2MPG) and my commute is 15 miles each way, the economic effect on me is less than a cup of Starbucks per WEEK...and that's if gas is at 3 bucks a gallon! It better have a massive impact to 'challenge' my driving. In fact, I've noticed that my HEMI actually gets better mileage if I travel at the unruly speed of 85MPH. My MPG actually improves to roughly 18MPG - a whopping 20% improvement. Thus, my challenge is how to drive 85 all the time!

[Bob]

Good stuff. I've had the most comments ever on two driving related posts. So more driving comments to come.

Back to your comment, it's a great "focus group of one", but I wonder if some other people would be more willing to change habits - especially those who are more strapped for cash. That cup of Starbucks ain't peanuts! At the end of the day, it doesn't take much or many people to have an effect. And ANY effect is essentially "free".

[Felix Egolf]

My 83' 112 HP Rabbit convertible allows a very fuel efficient driving style getting me 46 MPG in average. It's absolutely correct: lower highway speeds (45-55) definitely increase mileage, draftin does, too. If a on board fuel computer tells You that Your mileage is better at 85 than 55 it's just BS. Make a thorough calculation at Your next fuel stop. Always shut the engine off if You're stopping. Idling while standing still decreases Your mileage drastically (yes, that's one of the secrtets of hybrid cars but You can drive 'hybrid' with a regulart vehicle,too and beat the system). ECODRIVE is a big issue in Europe with gas prices hovering at 6 to 7 USD per Gallon ...