Go Back   EcoModder Forum > EcoModding > Instrumentation
Register Now
 Register Now
 

Reply  Post New Thread
 
Submit Tools LinkBack Thread Tools
Old 02-07-2008, 05:00 PM   #1 (permalink)
Batman Junior
 
MetroMPG's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: 1000 Islands, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 22,527

Blackfly - '98 Geo Metro
Team Metro
Last 3: 70.09 mpg (US)

MPGiata - '90 Mazda Miata
90 day: 54.46 mpg (US)

Even Fancier Metro - '14 Mitsubishi Mirage top spec
90 day: 70.75 mpg (US)

Appliance car Mirage - '14 Mitsubishi Mirage ES (base)
90 day: 62.14 mpg (US)
Thanks: 4,078
Thanked 6,976 Times in 3,612 Posts
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...

Quote:
Sounds like a suggestion for the ScanGauge programmers. A hypothetical "SG III" could have a wifi connection, or the "SG II" could have an option to download it's data (isn't this is a promise of future SG II firmware updates?!?!?) and then upload said data to an Internet database.
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

__________________
Project MPGiata! Mods for getting 50+ MPG from a 1990 Miata
Honda mods: Ecomodding my $800 Honda Fit 5-speed beater
Mitsu mods: 70 MPG in my ecomodded, dirt cheap, 3-cylinder Mirage.
Ecodriving test: Manual vs. automatic transmission MPG showdown



EcoModder
has launched a forum for the efficient new Mitsubishi Mirage
www.MetroMPG.com - fuel efficiency info for Geo Metro owners
www.ForkenSwift.com - electric car conversion on a beer budget
  Reply With Quote
Alt Today
Popular topics

Other popular topics in this forum...

   
Old 02-07-2008, 05:29 PM   #2 (permalink)
(:
 
Frank Lee's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: up north
Posts: 12,762

Blue - '93 Ford Tempo
Last 3: 27.29 mpg (US)

F150 - '94 Ford F150 XLT 4x4
90 day: 18.5 mpg (US)

Sport Coupe - '92 Ford Tempo GL
Last 3: 69.62 mpg (US)

ShWing! - '82 honda gold wing Interstate
90 day: 33.65 mpg (US)

Moon Unit - '98 Mercury Sable LX Wagon
90 day: 21.24 mpg (US)
Thanks: 1,585
Thanked 3,555 Times in 2,218 Posts
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!
__________________


  Reply With Quote
Old 02-07-2008, 05:32 PM   #3 (permalink)
Batman Junior
 
MetroMPG's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: 1000 Islands, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 22,527

Blackfly - '98 Geo Metro
Team Metro
Last 3: 70.09 mpg (US)

MPGiata - '90 Mazda Miata
90 day: 54.46 mpg (US)

Even Fancier Metro - '14 Mitsubishi Mirage top spec
90 day: 70.75 mpg (US)

Appliance car Mirage - '14 Mitsubishi Mirage ES (base)
90 day: 62.14 mpg (US)
Thanks: 4,078
Thanked 6,976 Times in 3,612 Posts
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.
__________________
Project MPGiata! Mods for getting 50+ MPG from a 1990 Miata
Honda mods: Ecomodding my $800 Honda Fit 5-speed beater
Mitsu mods: 70 MPG in my ecomodded, dirt cheap, 3-cylinder Mirage.
Ecodriving test: Manual vs. automatic transmission MPG showdown



EcoModder
has launched a forum for the efficient new Mitsubishi Mirage
www.MetroMPG.com - fuel efficiency info for Geo Metro owners
www.ForkenSwift.com - electric car conversion on a beer budget
  Reply With Quote
Old 02-07-2008, 05:39 PM   #4 (permalink)
Who
UnderModded
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: San Jose
Posts: 319

Pablo - '07 Hyundai Santa Fe AWD
90 day: 23.62 mpg (US)
Thanks: 0
Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts
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).
__________________
  Reply With Quote
Old 02-07-2008, 05:54 PM   #5 (permalink)
Batman Junior
 
MetroMPG's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: 1000 Islands, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 22,527

Blackfly - '98 Geo Metro
Team Metro
Last 3: 70.09 mpg (US)

MPGiata - '90 Mazda Miata
90 day: 54.46 mpg (US)

Even Fancier Metro - '14 Mitsubishi Mirage top spec
90 day: 70.75 mpg (US)

Appliance car Mirage - '14 Mitsubishi Mirage ES (base)
90 day: 62.14 mpg (US)
Thanks: 4,078
Thanked 6,976 Times in 3,612 Posts
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).
__________________
Project MPGiata! Mods for getting 50+ MPG from a 1990 Miata
Honda mods: Ecomodding my $800 Honda Fit 5-speed beater
Mitsu mods: 70 MPG in my ecomodded, dirt cheap, 3-cylinder Mirage.
Ecodriving test: Manual vs. automatic transmission MPG showdown



EcoModder
has launched a forum for the efficient new Mitsubishi Mirage
www.MetroMPG.com - fuel efficiency info for Geo Metro owners
www.ForkenSwift.com - electric car conversion on a beer budget
  Reply With Quote
Old 02-07-2008, 07:33 PM   #6 (permalink)
Lurking footless halls
 
Silveredwings's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: northeast
Posts: 249

Dark Horse - '16 Ford Mustang GT convertible Premium

Gutless Beauty - '19 Toyota Corolla SE
Thanks: 3
Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts
How about a traffic jam warning?
__________________
Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic. - Clarke's Third Law
  Reply With Quote
Old 02-07-2008, 10:58 PM   #7 (permalink)
MP$
 
diesel_john's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: SW Ohio
Posts: 595
Thanks: 5
Thanked 19 Times in 14 Posts
Send a message via MSN to diesel_john
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.
  Reply With Quote
Old 02-07-2008, 11:48 PM   #8 (permalink)
Depends on the Day
 
RH77's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Kansas City Area
Posts: 1,761

Teggy - '98 Acura Integra LS
Sports Cars
90 day: 32.74 mpg (US)

IMA - '10 Honda Insight EX
Team Honda
90 day: 34.76 mpg (US)

Tessie - '06 Acura TSX Base
90 day: 28.2 mpg (US)
Thanks: 31
Thanked 41 Times in 35 Posts
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.

RH77
__________________
“If we knew what we were doing, it wouldn't be called research” ― Albert Einstein

_
_
  Reply With Quote
Old 02-10-2008, 03:42 PM   #9 (permalink)
I"m not lurking!
 
s2man's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Kansas City, MO
Posts: 128

Porthos - '96 Chevrolet Cavalier
90 day: 31.3 mpg (US)
Thanks: 0
Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post
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.
__________________
Roll on,
Stew

  Reply With Quote
Old 02-10-2008, 09:11 PM   #10 (permalink)
Giant Moving Eco-Wall
 
DifferentPointofView's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: The Dale, IL (or A-Dale)
Posts: 1,120

The Jeep! - '95 Jeep Grand Cherokee ZJ Laredo
90 day: 23.75 mpg (US)

The Caliber - '07 Dodge Caliber R/T
90 day: 30.6 mpg (US)

The 'Scort - '98 Ford Escort LX
Thanks: 0
Thanked 7 Times in 6 Posts
I'd just plain make it where It could be used on any vehicle, you know.. before 96... carbed or not. etc.

__________________


Yea.. I drive a Jeep and I'm on a fuel economy site, but you just wouldn't understand... "It's a Jeep thing!" *Jeep Wave*

Did I Use Too Many Abbreviations? Here's The Abbreviations List
  Reply With Quote
The Following User Says Thank You to DifferentPointofView For This Useful Post:
Cd (04-01-2012)
Reply  Post New Thread




Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
How to calculate MPG / fuel economy formula MetroMPG DIY / How-to 29 11-25-2013 07:47 PM
News: Toyota to provide fuel economy instrumentation in all models MetroMPG General Efficiency Discussion 13 12-18-2009 07:40 PM
Why SUV fuel economy is so much more important than small car fuel economy... SVOboy General Efficiency Discussion 30 02-23-2009 07:26 PM
Nissan raises the bar: networked, onboard, "multiplayer" fuel economy instrumentation MetroMPG Instrumentation 12 02-07-2008 05:01 PM
Basic EcoDriving Techniques and Instrumentation SVOboy Instrumentation 2 11-17-2007 12:38 PM



Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
Content Relevant URLs by vBSEO 3.5.2
All content copyright EcoModder.com