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http://www.groovygreen.com/groove/wp-content/uploads/2008/01/ecodrive_2.gif

While it would be great if everyone paid attention to driving habits in relation to saving fuel — the truth is not many of us know exactly the best way to efficiently hit the open road. For those currently sitting in a car equipped with Toyota’s Hybrid Synergy Drive, you probably already have an idea of what “Eco” mode is. Basically, when you’re driving most efficiently, an eco lamp lights up on the dashboard. Hitting the pedal with a lead foot will turn it off. This back and forth of trial and error eventually places you in the “zone” of fuel savings — about 5-10%.

Anyways, Toyota plans on implementing this system across their lineup — including all Lexus and Scion models sometime in 2009.

now thats a great idea!!!

that's pretty cool although I don't necessarily think a light will make people drive more efficiently. when you drive, you should have a good idea of if you are driving efficiently vs driving with a leadfoot.

fwiw, it's another "option" they can add to window stickers, thus increasing the cost of the car for consumers.

petty good idea, i mean it may work on people we just got to wait and see

It's just another thing to distract the driver's eyes from the road.

:no: Its nothing new. A few cars in the 70s had it.

more recently, the honda accord hybrid had a indicator like that to tell you when you are getting more than 30 mpg.

pretty much all toyota's with the ect button near the gear shift had them and all newer Lexus has them as well. It's call an econ button, along with pow and norm. Then Toyota decided to remove the econ button in the mid 80's til now.

I want a push button ignition starter instead. :D

Seems like a cool idea. :eyebrow: I would rather have a start/stop function or mild hyrid especially for the xB2. With such a function xB2 could get mileage more like xB1 but with more performance. :clap:

yeah, i guess its kinda cool. I guess it'll be there as a constant reminder to drive "ecofriendlier"

VW had them in the cars in the 80s, it was called an upshift indicator since they did not offer automatics in the first years.

Most people removed the bulb or ignored it as those who used it ended up lugging the engine down so much it needed the rings replaced in a few thousand miles. It worked off the vacuum and combination of throttle.

A real way to test efficiency is to get a vacuum meter or a sensor/code scanner to read the map sensor data.

How do I get 46mpg from my xa stick shift? I just tap/lightly press the gas petal and let the car get me up to speed. Shift at 3 grand, avoid stop and go traffic by taking the interstate and not idling once the car is warrmed up. I kill the engine at long stop lights, drive ins and do not use the heat til the blue light goes off. I engine brake much as possible and try to still be rolling so when a red light turns green again I can roll off in 2nd gear or higher if I am traveling faster.

For the record, worse fuel economy has been 32mpg.

:no: Its nothing new. A few cars in the 70s had it.

My old Benz had a gauge. That's way cooler than a light.

My Caddy had a light but it was always on, I think it was broken. I guess an 8.2L isn't very economic anyways.

:no: Its nothing new. A few cars in the 70s had it.

chrysler had it back in 74-78 was called the "fuel pacer it was vacuum controlled

http://www.nybclub.org/m-r/engine/FuelPacer/index.htm

:D

BMW 3 and 5 series had in indicator beneath the tach, it was annoying and distracting, no wonder it didn't last long bast 1992. This new initiative brings us all closer to the cars that drive themselves, count me out. P.S. it will be good for P.R. but really, who cares :yawn:

smokeydog001 Posted: 1/10/08 11:55AM


Its nothing new. A few cars in the 70s had it. :no:


And the 1980's. My 89 LeBaron has an "electronic traveller" or something like that. Anyway, it can tell you both instant and average fuel mileage.

I have a feeling that idiot lights and trip computers are making a comeback. :P

Awesome idea why didn't they put this in the cars. I wanted this feature for sooo long. Toyota's need to add other gas saving ideas to the market too.

The light should turn on if I am not driving economically, a light that is always on would get annoying.

The light should turn on if I am not driving economically, a light that is always on would get annoying.

thats what this does


chrysler had it back in 74-78 was called the "fuel pacer it was vacuum controlled

http://www.nybclub.org/m-r/engine/FuelPacer/index.htm

:D

I think this "eco" light is a good idea especially for some of us with a heavy foot... :lalala:

Yea BMW's have a mpG gauge which is a whole lot smaerter IMHO

Max

that's hilarious. i wonder how many people are like me. i'd get annoyed and start driving faster just to make the stupid thing turn off. :loser:

The light should turn on if I am not driving economically, a light that is always on would get annoying.

thats what this does
:D
.... No, not according to the post above read it again, carefully this time "when you’re driving most efficiently, an eco lamp lights up on the dashboard. Hitting the pedal with a lead foot will turn it off."

I think the light should work the opposite way if I am driving economically turn it off, not on and if I am driving with a lead food turn it on, not off. I have no incentive to keep a light on, I do have an incentive to keep it off because it will not annoy me.

Gentlemen, you can get a scanner guage tool to read the mpg already on your odb2 fuel injected car or truck as is, including the scions. A good indicator is the vacuum reading frm the map or a vacuum meter. Just an FYI.

Gentlemen, you can get a scanner guage tool to read the mpg already on your odb2 fuel injected car or truck as is, including the scions. A good indicator is the vacuum reading frm the map or a vacuum meter. Just an FYI.

as in a scangaugeII

My 98 Jeep Cherokee has an MPG meter in the overhead computer. Unfortunately, living in the mountains, it frequently drops down into the single digits.

As long as its not uphill both directions, you should be able to make it up, unless you floor it on the way up. With odb2 fuel systems and no throttle input it should cut off the injectors if the rpms are over 1700, meaning you would need to upshift and use the engine as a brake. As for going up, you are going to need to rev the engine near its power band area and likely have it a gear higher or two and possibility a lower speed. For best fuel economy you need to let the car do the work, not force it.

My 98 Jeep Cherokee has an MPG meter in the overhead computer. Unfortunately, living in the mountains, it frequently drops down into the single digits.

This just reminded me of the time I rented a Chevy Cobalt and floored it everywhere I went and when the mileage was better than 15MPGs I would two foot it (one foot brake one foot gas). I would drive around with my left foot on the brakes until the transmission got too hot and then I would ease off the brakes a little. I am surprised that the car wasn't smoking when I returned it.

Ive bem slightly less agressive with my xa than you were with the colbolt and still managed 32mpg. Boy is this car easy to squeal tires. Sofar twice now, 32 has beenmy worse tank. The other time it was over 100 degrees out and was backed up in traffic on i295 one way for an accident, then the next day when an egg truck over turned.

I would do everything in my power to keep that light off with out taking off the bulb. It is nothing more than a marketing "were green" gimick. If they really wanted people to monitor thier driving they could put a little indicator that tells them thier current MPG. The fact that is says "eco" to me makes is stupid.

I'd prefer a button(s) that self-adjusts modes much like different EQ settings on a audio system work. Similar also to the SSP xA, xB, and tC modes on the radio in Scions that set it's pre-configured parameters, I think a "eco" button(s) would put ur car into gas saving mode which no matter how heavy the foot is it would already be limited to the maximum "eco" setting. Than sure an eco light on the dash indicating it's in gas save mode would be beneficial (make it a green light Toyota). :idea: :clap:

http://www.groovygreen.com/groove/wp-content/uploads/2008/01/ecodrive_2.gif

Ive been slightly less aggressive with my xa than you were with the colbolt and still managed 32mpg. Boy is this car easy to squeal tires. Sofar twice now, 32 has beenmy worse tank. The other time it was over 100 degrees out and was backed up in traffic on i295 one way for an accident, then the next day when an egg truck over turned.


When I ran it on the freeway with average driving I got 40 MPG's. The Cobalt is a nice car for fuel economy and a hell of a lot faster than my XB.

I now wish I could get better than 26MPG's out of the XB. No Luck so far.

Believe or not the hotter air gives better fuel economy. Cold air just kills the mileage.

I could drive to Vegas is 100+ degree weather during the middle of the day and get over 32 MPGs doing 85-90MPH the whole way with the air conditioning on. On the way back during the night when it less than 70 degrees and I could manage no more than 26 MPGs with no air conditioning.

XBMutha, I agree, the system leans the fuel minture. I know a guy with a snap on programmer and has offered to alt the fuel profile to make it run leaner tha nnormal as is. If you visit gas savers . org website they talk about using dryer duct to grab air from the exhaust manifole to the intake. Surel ess power, but more fuel economy.

i dont think id really care for an eco light in my dash. now a shift light on the other hand (like the ones on a drag car) would be more fitting. i really dont care if im only pushin just over 100hp, the thought of my car telling me im driving like my grandmother is rather humiliating. weather its gas or bio diesel i dont care i just wanna get to the next stoplight first. :rofl:

Ever play the hybrid game to see how much gas mileage you can get? It is sometimes more entertaining than taking a 600hp Supra out on the open road. No, I'm sorry Supra there is no way that statement can be true. It is fun although and at the end the car tells you Excellent!!! on the screen like a videogame.

I have something like this on the dump truck i drive. it has an LCD screen on the gauge cluster, and when you're driving efficiently the bottom corner lights up with $$. Pretty helpful for a truck that only gets 5-7 MPG...

I think this "eco" light is a good idea especially for some of us with a heavy foot... :lalala:a heavy foot, but still MPG minded...I know how you feel...I usually get about 26-28mpg :(