11-13-2009, 10:43 AM
|
#1 (permalink)
|
Batman Junior
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: 1000 Islands, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 22,527
Thanks: 4,078
Thanked 6,976 Times in 3,612 Posts
|
BMW advocating for smarter traffic lights abroad and in U.S.
Source: BMW Pushing For Smart Traffic Lights To Aid Fuel Efficiency - The Car Connection
BMW's Traffic Technology and Traffic Management group has been doing some research...
Quote:
Traffic signals have been one of the initial research subjects for the group. In its initial research, the group studied so-called Green Waves—a minimum of four signals in sequence that can be synchronized for better traffic flow.
Simply by changing the timing of traffic lights on a test stretch of roadway in Munich, the engineers were able to nearly double the fuel efficiency of a BMW 530d test vehicle—from 22 mpg to 42 mpg. [not clear if that's US or Imperial gallons]
That being an idealized situation, the company expects an overall 10 to 15 percent decrease in urban fuel consumption due to smart traffic signaling.
|
This is good to see an automaker pushing this topic.
Of course, they're absolutely right that better traffic light timing saves fuel... but it doesn't change the vehicle's government fuel economy ratings. Which makes me wonder...
Aside from the PR, what incentive does the company have for pursuing this?
|
|
|
Today
|
|
|
Other popular topics in this forum...
|
|
|
11-13-2009, 10:49 AM
|
#2 (permalink)
|
Batman Junior
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: 1000 Islands, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 22,527
Thanks: 4,078
Thanked 6,976 Times in 3,612 Posts
|
|
|
|
11-13-2009, 11:13 AM
|
#3 (permalink)
|
(:
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: up north
Posts: 12,762
Thanks: 1,585
Thanked 3,555 Times in 2,218 Posts
|
Good on 'em. I've long observed that our lights are timed for maximum inconvenience- making as much traffic stop as often as possible.
|
|
|
11-13-2009, 01:12 PM
|
#4 (permalink)
|
Banned
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: california
Posts: 1,329
Thanks: 24
Thanked 161 Times in 107 Posts
|
I lived in a town for a long time where almost all the traffic lights were timed for maxium efficiency and traffic flow with traffic sensors built into the road surface. Going to other cities where all the lights are on a simple timer is infuriating. I have to waste a bunch of time idling when there is no cross traffic.
|
|
|
11-13-2009, 01:45 PM
|
#5 (permalink)
|
EcoModding Lurker
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Las Vegas, NV
Posts: 12
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
|
Sounds great. anything that would change the existing system would be wonderful. The one here in las vegas absolutely sucks. At least once a day I get stuck at an intersection waiting for the light to turn green because they gave the turning lane the green arrow without any cars even being there. Then to make it worse, the drivers here are ridiculous...
|
|
|
11-13-2009, 02:29 PM
|
#6 (permalink)
|
...beats walking...
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: .
Posts: 6,190
Thanks: 179
Thanked 1,525 Times in 1,126 Posts
|
...simple answer: all roads must consist of 4-lane, oneway traffic in a CIRCLE.
...like this:
A) OUTSIDE highspeed lane for exits to interior (left).
B) center TWO lanes for "through" traffic.
C) INSIDE slowspeed lane for on-ramp entry and exits to exterior (right).
...NO stop lights.
...the "Loop" in Boston, the "201 Loop" around Phoenix, etc.
Last edited by gone-ot; 11-13-2009 at 03:04 PM..
|
|
|
11-13-2009, 03:02 PM
|
#7 (permalink)
|
.........................
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Buckley, WA
Posts: 1,597
Thanks: 391
Thanked 488 Times in 316 Posts
|
I would love this! I grew up near Anchorage AK and they have timed lights. There were a couple streets that I could go from one end of the city to the other without stopping. It was one of the best cities I've been in for driving around.
Mike
|
|
|
11-13-2009, 03:38 PM
|
#8 (permalink)
|
EcoModding Lurker
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Central PA
Posts: 90
Draco - '89 Ford F150 ext cab shrt bed XLT Lariat 90 day: 16.45 mpg (US)
Thanks: 12
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
|
Kudo's to BMW
The lights here are AWFUL! there are many I will avoid completely. I have seen drivers get frustrated and tired of waiting they just go.
|
|
|
11-13-2009, 03:52 PM
|
#9 (permalink)
|
EcoModding Lurker
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Madrid, Spain
Posts: 11
Thanks: 1
Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post
|
Public transport (buses) and cars have different requeriments:
In a car, you would prefer that traffic lights go green as you approach, "green waves" go with the traffic flow and once you are in a "green wave" you don't stop - unless you are too slow and a "red wave" catches you.
In a bus, since it has to stop constantly, you would miss those "waves" all the time... then if you want to favour public transport (better overall FE!!) those "green waves" go against traffic, but it is totally inconvenient for cars...
Maximum overall efficency is not as easy as it seems
-- My brother gave me this explanation once, he is a road engineer --
__________________
MrK
|
|
|
11-13-2009, 07:21 PM
|
#10 (permalink)
|
Banned
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: california
Posts: 1,329
Thanks: 24
Thanked 161 Times in 107 Posts
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Old Tele man
...simple answer: all roads must consist of 4-lane, oneway traffic in a CIRCLE.
...like this:
A) OUTSIDE highspeed lane for exits to interior (left).
B) center TWO lanes for "through" traffic.
C) INSIDE slowspeed lane for on-ramp entry and exits to exterior (right).
...NO stop lights.
|
Thats retarded.
|
|
|
|