In the July 14 issue, Time magazine reported on the top ten benefits of having $4 gas. Despite some of the positive effects (fewer deaths caused by traffic and lower car insurance), it is still hard to come to terms with the increasing prices. Rather than look for the light at the end of the tunnel, I beg for anything that will help me to avoid paying close to $40 to fill my Nissan Sentra.
Lucky for me, Nissan has created the Eco-Pedal Intelligent Accelerator Pedal System, a feature that was designed to help drivers become more fuel-efficient. The system uses a pedal push-back control mechanism to detect excess pressure and poor fuel efficiency. The system calculates the rate of fuel consumption and transmission efficiency during acceleration and cruising to determine the ideal acceleration rate. When the driver is accelerating past the ideal rate, there is a green light that flashes and then turns to amber as a final warning. That is when the push-back control mechanism prevents the driver from accelerating more. The Eco-Pedal will not be available until 2009, but Nissan has already conducted internal research that shows a 5% to10% increase in fuel efficiency.
The benefit of the system is obvious: conserving fuel so you spend less on filling your tank every week, mostly for those who have a lead foot. But what happens when the driver is stuck in traffic? The system does have the ability to be turned on and off when it’s suitable for the driver, but won’t that defeat the purpose of the system? Considering that most speed limits are not followed on major highways, what if the system does not allow the driver to keep up with traffic? My skepticism of this system runs high, but I do see the potential and the benefits that the Eco-Pedal could have. It may not decrease the price of gas, but every little bit helps, even if it’s only a few dollars that can stay in my wallet.
