"Honda Provides Photos and Details of Its Eco-Driving System for the Insight Hybrid" Green Car Advisor

Honda Provides Photos and Details of Its Eco-Driving System for the Insight Hybrid

Above, the instrument panel of the Honda Insight contains lots of tools to help the motorist drive more fuel efficiently.

By Scott Doggett, Contributor

Honda has released images and details of the Ecological Drive Assist System as it appears in the Japanese version of the soon-to-launch Insight hybrid.

The system is similar to Ford's new SmartGauge with EcoGuide instrument cluster for the 2010 Ford Fusion and Mercury Milan hybrids, as well as devices appearing in various Nissan and Toyota models, in that all are intended to help drivers use gasoline as efficiently as possible.

Japan's version of the Insight will also be able to integrate with the optional Honda HDD InterNavi System. When combined with this system, the EDAS can give more advice on how to enhance fuel economy while driving, specifically by looking through a driver's history and suggesting driver-specific changes.

A scoring function provides cumulative, long-term feedback through graphic "leaves" that grow over time as drivers become more fuel-efficient. "The joy of growing these leaves over a long time will encourage drivers to learn how to drive more fuel-efficiently," the company said in a press release.

Among the key features of the EDAS is an ECON Mode, which Honda first implemented on the all-new Odyssey. Since then, the mode has been advanced with added functions to control the idle stop and regenerative braking capabilities of the hybrid.

As soon as the driver presses the ECON Mode button, the system will "harmonize" the continuously variable transmission and engine, flip the air-conditioner to energy-saving mode, extend the idle stop time and increase regenerative recharging during deceleration--all of which will increase the vehicle's fuel economy.

The Ambient Meter

To increase driver awareness of more fuel-efficient driving, the ambient meter, which is a background color on the speedometer, notifies the driver of the current driving conditions.

The ambient meter displays a green color when fuel-efficient driving is being achieved, a blue-green color when relatively fuel-efficient driving is being achieved with smooth acceleration and deceleration, and a blue color while the vehicle is consuming extra fuel with bursts of acceleration or deceleration.

The ambient meter enables the driver to be aware of real-time fuel consumption patterns and encourages him or her to drive more fuel efficiently by maintaining a green display.

In Honda's hybrid system, the motor assists during acceleration and performs regenerative recharging during braking; as a result, braking practices also have an impact on fuel economy. The ambient meter is the world's first function of its kind to support fuel-efficient driving by responding not just to acceleration practices, but to braking practices as well.

Score With the Eco Guide

The scoring function provides feedback about current driving practices, as well as cumulative, long-term feedback tracking progress in fuel-efficient driving.

Located in the center of the instrument panel of the Insight, the Multi-Information Display offers drivers a selection of data displays, including the scoring function. That function displays "leaves"--the more that appear the more efficient the vehicle is bein driven.

When the ignition switch is on, the display scores current driving performance. When the ignition switch is turned off, the "leaves" in the top row display the score for the latest driving cycle (startup to shutdown), while a horizontal bar in the bottom row displays the 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.

A Nice Option

The HDD InterNavi System displays detailed scoring function statistics and provides advice for further enhancing fuel economy.

With the optional HDD InterNaviSystem, a driver can access a full history of scoring function results and additional detailed scoring function statistics.

InterNavi also adds an advice function that offers advice for further enhancing fuel economy based upon an analysis of the driver's driving practices.

Useful in improving fuel-efficient driving habits over the long term, the information may also be securely accessed over the Internet by InterNavi subscribers.

Unfortunately, Honda said this aspect of the EDAS function will be available only for the model sold in Japan. We hope the country's No. 2 automaker will reconsider, because a lot of us would appreciate this device as well.

Look for the new Insight with an English-version EDAS to appear in U.S. showrooms in the spring of 2009.