Car showrooms could soon be playing a key role in helping drivers fight the rising cost of motoring. A special simulator is being developed by Renault to take customers for a ‘drive’ – then tell them how they could have completed their virtual journey on less fuel, writes Maurice Glover.
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Due to be introduced in the firm’s domestic sales network at the end of the year, the simulator is ready to go into dealerships across Europe in 2009. But Renault UK says ‘significant cost issues’ need to be addressed before the breakthrough in eco-driving education can be made available in Britain.
“Everyone is acutely aware of the spiralling cost of fuel and there’s no doubt this is a great step forward. We will gauge reaction to the idea when it is used on our stand at the Paris Motor Show, but everything depends on the cost of this technology – the simulator is an expensive piece of equipment and we’re at an early stage in discussions over its adoption.
“We are conscious that overheads need to be kept in control, but we’re not yet in a position to say if this would be free to the dealer,” said a spokesman.
According to the company, the virtual drives have the potential to help customers cut fuel consumption by up to 20 per cent by assessing individual performance and giving tips on how to improve driving technique.
“We see it as our duty to provide novel solutions that make driving less costly and curb the production of greenhouse gases. Our idea is to help motorists assess their driving style and identify how they can improve by switching to ecological, economical behaviour. From October, we will be staging eco-driving awareness days in Paris that will involve free lessons, sessions on simulators and eco-driving family rallies,” said an official.
Maurice Glover
