The Honda Insight was the first car to arrive with feature.
Some 14 years ago (November 2008), Honda management announced the arrival of a new
interactive, driver-focused fuel economy enhancement technology named the Ecological Drive Assist System (Eco Assist™). This new ‘feature’ was to debut with the latest version of the Honda Insight the following year.
This 2nd generation Honda Insight was to arrive in showrooms with a brand new petrol-electric hybrid powertrain and it was the start of Honda’s ‘push’ towards lower emissions and low fuel sipping mobility.
Eco Assist combines multiple functions: the driver-activated ECON mode that optimizes control of the continuously variable transmission, engine and related powertrain components to conserve fuel; and a feedback function that uses speedometer background color to provide real-time guidance on environmentally responsible driving.
An economy scoring function further provides feedback about current driving techniques, as well as feedback on cumulative, long-term driving style.
Honda developed the powertrain control, driver guidance and driver feedback functions of Eco Assist to help enhance real-world fuel economy. In particular, the scoring function provides cumulative, long-term feedback through graphic ‘leaves,’ which grow over time as drivers learn and implement driving practices that increase fuel economy.
Activated by a green “ECON” button on the instrument panel, ECON mode optimizes control of the transmission, engine and other powertrain elements to conserve fuel. ECON mode also adjusts air conditioner operation, increases the potential for engaging the idle stop feature sooner and increase battery charging during regenerative braking.
The guidance function uses the speedometer background’s color-changing, three-dimensional appearance to indicate fuel efficiency in real time. Fuel-saving activities like smooth acceleration and braking make the meter glow green. Somewhat less efficient driving makes the meter glow blue-green.
Aggressive starts and stops that consume extra fuel make the meter glow blue. By observing the speedometer background’s response to driving practices and seeking to achieve a consistently green color, drivers can receive assistance in developing driving habits that typically enhance fuel economy.
The scoring function provides feedback about current driving practices, as well as cumulative, long-term feedback tracking progress. Located in the center of the instrument panel of the all-new Insight, the Multi-Information
Display offers drivers a selection of informational displays, including the scoring function, in which the number of ‘leaves’ displayed indicates the level of environmentally responsible driving performance. When the ignition switch is on, the display scores driving practices in real time.
When the ignition switch is turned off, the ‘leaves’ in the top line of the display score driving in the just completed cycle (startup to shutdown), while a horizontal bar in the lower part of the display scores cumulative lifetime performance.
The Multi-Information Display also allows drivers to view fuel economy figures for the past three trips, as well as instantaneous and average fuel economy statistics. The scoring function encourages drivers to take an interest in developing fuel efficient driving habits over the long term.
Today, we see this fuel economy scoring feature made available in all new models from Honda. The Accord, Civic, City cars all have them and the CR-V SUV and HR-V Crossover also has it.
