Just had a discussion with a co-working today wondering why a MPG gauge isn't mandatory on cars. Lawmakers were willing to make a TPMS required, why not display for the MPG? My co-worker has been having fun driving a Prius partly because of the display that is constantly giving feedback due to driving habits.

And now I just see an article about Nissan putting something out there as well for both safety and efficiency.


Granted you couldn't force people to follow it, but if there was a moving gauge or a red light indicating the points you really lose efficiency while driving, ya think it would help. Heck most cars have the ability to give real-time mpg and average... why not make it more visible?

 

Some people would enjoy it, but others wouldn't. It would be like those rear view mirror compass's... great novelty with noble reasons for having it put in... which only 5% of the population actually uses.

 

Hmmmmmm. I remember the 'shift-lights' that were in some models in the 70's - 80's. Cute little light that would illuminate at the 'correct' shift point. No thanks.

Just about every car I've had in the last 8 years, Lexus, Audi, Dodge (with the exception of the Fit) gives some feedback as to efficiency. MPG, MPT, instant MPG, DTE, avg speed, etc. Always wondered why the Fit wouldn't have something like that. Heck at a million units, incorporating a scangauge like diagnostic tool would be a cheap option.

--D

 

They should incoporate MR T's voice saying "Slow down foo!" when you hit an engine speed of 5K.

And everytime you brake too hard, it'll say "Mr. T will break you for that!"

 

I was just discussing this exact topic with my wife last night. She told me she'd read an article about a town in England where they'd installed similar sorts of meters in houses, so that people would know how much electricity their appliances, computers, etc., were using.

I think it would be a great idea to have a scan gauge built seamlessly into the instrument console. I'd use it. And, as gas prices go up, others would get into the habit as well. I bet in another ten years, all new cars will have them.

 

My saab 9000 came with a real time MPG indicator (and an average) and i always use it, its a great tool to help me figure out which gear I should be in to get the best mileage. It allows me to get 31 city when its only rated for 21 city.. although when i go 70 on the highway it drops back down to a 28 average, but there isn't much i can do about that because i'm not slowing down

Its a horizontal bar under the speedo guages, my friends tell me it seems really distracting, but its just as easy to ignore as it is to use.