Nissan Motor on Tuesday said it would equip all future new models with a fuel efficiency gauge to give drivers more information on how their driving style directly relates to fuel economy.
Go deeper with GlobalData
Discover B2B Marketing That Performs
Combine business intelligence and editorial excellence to reach engaged professionals across 36 leading media platforms.
The gauge will also be added to current models scheduled for minor product ‘freshenings’, the automaker said.
The move parallels moves by some automakers after the 1970s Middle East ‘oil shocks’ when fuel shortages encouraged a switch to more economical cars and fuel-efficient driving. Some makers fitted vaccum gauge-based ‘econometers’ to aid drivers.
Nissan said its new fuel efficiency gauge provides the driver with both instant fuel-efficiency and average efficiency readings.
For example, by accelerating, the driver would instantly see an increase in fuel consumption reflected on the gauge.
“Based on Nissan’s trials, drivers have tended to improve their eco-driving habits over time, prompted by the real-time fuel-efficiency readings. Driving improvements also included smoother acceleration and braking, which potentially could lead to an average 10% improvement in fuel-efficiency,” the automaker said.
In January 2007, Nissan introduced the eco-driving information service through its Carwings navigation system to promote more economical driving habits.
Nissan claimed the installation of the fuel efficiency gauge in the instrument cluster as a standard feature on all new models would extend the awareness of eco-driving to a wider audience.
The introduction of the fuel efficiency gauge is in line with the company’s overall efforts to launch a wide range of environmental technologies under its so-called Nissan Green Programme 2010 mid-term environmental action plan.
Current models scheduled to get the new guage include the Skyline, Lafesta and Atlas in Japan, and the Altima and Infiniti G35 in the US.
