What features on your ULTIMATE fuel economy instrumentation?
 

In the thread about Nissan's CARWINGS service that takes fuel economy instrumentation to a higher level, CarloSW2 said...

That got me thinking... What features would you like to see on the "ultimate" fuel economy computer?

Couple of things I'd like, off the top of my head...

• Heads-up display, projected onto the windscreen

• Settable audio tone, (e.g. when "target driving" - aka DWL - to a specific instantaneous fuel consumption rate) that sounds/changes as you start to approach/drop below your target

• An interface with the cruise control for target driving - so you set your target MPG, not a target speed, and the computer talks to the cruise control

I'd like an online or whatever link to gas station prices along my route. No more filling up at the "wrong" place and missing the lowest price!

That's a neat idea.

I like the Nissan idea too: automatic upload to a web and in-car database (with optional privacy settings) so you can compare to all other people who are using the computer.

More integration with NAV/GPS equipment and the ability to monitor and sense elevation and grade. The ability to remember routes and conditions and which techniques worked best under different scenarios and provide some form of coaching. You'd probably cross some line connecting it to an actual control except maybe the cruise module.

Also the ability to judge forward distances, distance of vehicles behind , sense traffic light pattern and alert when they may change (at least try modeling patterns on those that are on standard routes).

Ooh. Good ideas. How about:

• The ability to tell you, exactly how much throttle to use to accelerate at maximum efficiency, and suggest when to shift (if it's a manual).

How about a traffic jam warning?

Wind speed indicator so you know if you can take advantage of the wind, or if you are driving in the wrong place in a wake.
Current wind conditions along your route. may be better going clockwise around Indy today rather than counter clockwise.
A red, yellow and green led on the back of the car, to tell the driver behind if you are accelerating, coasting or engine braking.
Ditto, cruise control options for economy acceleration and cruise, with/out trans down shifting or unlocking.

Since I respond to visual items best, I would vote for a digital meter for selected parameters instead of a number (FE, LOD, TPS, GPH).

To take the work out of it, the device would upload to a PC (wireless, bluetooth, USB, whichever). The program would interpret the highest cruise FE and the parameters present during that run (timing, IAT, LOD, speed bands).

I'd also vote for previous suggestions of a HUD, and wind speed / direction.

If we're dreaming here: it could also program fuel maps and shift autos manually. :D

RH77

Ditto on the elevation/grade info. I borrowed a gps with elevation readout, but the constant monitoring and mental calculation required to determine rate of accent/decent was too time consuming and distracting.

Ditto on the wind conditions: Absolute, maybe. But I check the wind conditions before starting my commutes anyway. Relative wind would definitely useful. (Will I look too dorky with an anemometer and wind vane on the roof of my car? Will the drag offset any gains?)

Ditto on communications. But I don't need wireless. The SGII already has two serial ports. It would just be nice to poll it with a pc for data logging, or with a micro controller for mod control, etc. Why not share all data available, including calculated FE?

How about an integrated EFIE, with the ability to control it based on parameters such as throttle, rpm, or speed? eg, if speed > 45 and throttle < 25 and loop = closed then enable EFIE.

Speaking of controls, how about some programmable outputs for controlling our mods? In addition to the above mentioned EFIE, we could control torque-converter lockup, water injection, fuel vaporizer, alternator disable, HHO generator, etc., based on engine parameters.

I'd just plain make it where It could be used on any vehicle, you know.. before 96... carbed or not. etc.