The latest prototype version of my fuel saver has just been posted on youtube as a short demonstration video.
Could you please have look and give me your opinion, with any comments for improvement
You can see it by entering into youtube search bar, eco spot saver head up
Please note, I am a retired private individual and previously received permission from the Webmaster before I posted an earlier version.
Many thanks
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You asked for opinions.
I'm a lorry driver, and your device encourages the basics of what we are taught in order to maximise economy; keep the rev counter in the "green band", coast where possible, correct speed for corners etc. All good so far.
However; sorry, you knew this was coming! I apologise if this seems like stereotyping, but guess is that the type of car driver who would see this device as a positive benefit would also be the one who's most likely to drive that way in the first place, and furthermore it's a distraction from what's happening ahead of you, there are more than enough of them already.
In a nutshell; saving fuel's good, both for your pocket and the environment, but it shouldn't be at the expense of a distraction from your driving.
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Somebuddy should invent a vacuum gauge tinyurl.com/pn574hw Amazon
:}
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Thanks for your comment
I am not a lorry driver but I do have motorhome which is similarly bad for fuel consumption but I have improved this greatly using the saver.
Maintaining a constant speed (zero acceleration) is good for economy and this is fairly easy eg on a flat stretch of the motorway, but doing this on a variable piece of normal road, such as I show in the video, is not so straight forward. Here the saver helps a lot by showing continuously if you are in the green and especially dead centre where acceleration is zero.
As regards distraction, with a bit of experience it is only necessary to glance at the saver occasionally. Also, it is positioned similar to a windscreen mounted satnav and is only about half the size.
Unfortunately, if you seriously want to save fuel, it means you have to work at it.
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Don't most cars already give you information of actual fuel usage and average mpg for the journey. Many cars will also give an indication as to when to change up fo maximum economy.
Gadget seem to add nothing except a head up view which I would find distracting.
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I think it's great as a concept but you would never make a living from it, but you may have done 30 years ago when it would have been a novelty like the little dashboard compass in a ball of liquid or those solid-state frost warning stickers for the side mirrors.
Last edited by: Shiny Tailpipes on Tue 25 Aug 15 at 10:56
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In your vid, it says "ignoring warning signs - being forced to brake"
If the driver ignores road signs, then he's more than likely to ignore your little gadget as well.
Talking of ignoring signs, I see you ignored the 10 mph advisory signs for loose chippings during your road test ;)
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And also talking of fuel saving, IIRC Jeremy Clarkson drove from London to Edinburgh, and back in an Audi A8 on one tank of fuel.
He said something like "yes it's entirely possible, but it was reaaallllyyyy boring"
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It seems to indicate just 3 things - accelerating, coasting and braking. How does that equate with fuel consumption? Does it capture the consumption figure from ECU or only estimating it by measuring acceleration?
My car shows fuel consumption in real time and sometimes braking cause fuel economy to improve!
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<<< It seems to indicate just 3 things >>>
<<< How does it work?>>>
About as useful as a cup of coffee 80% full, sitting on the dashboard!
Actually the cup of coffee is better, because you can drink it when you have decided to ignore it.
Last edited by: sherlock47 on Tue 25 Aug 15 at 13:13
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Driving A to B is what it is and uses what fuel it uses.
Driving to the shops just uses fuel at a horrid rate.
I just drive sensibly these days, somewhat dictated by the cost of petrol, but I could not be a***d with a fancy display to tell me that I could save a fraction of a litre if I went 1mph slower, or accelerated slightly less forcefully.
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BMW puts a swingy-needle thing at the bottom of the rev counter that is supposed to show just this. I never look at it, except when I'm already pointlessly pootling in motorway traffic, nor would I look at it more if it was an HUD instead.
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This sort of new fangled (old fangled) invention has been doing the rounds for as many years as I care to remember and all have been proved (to the best of my knowledge) to be worthless.
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You are very perceptive but the 10 mph signs are at that stage where most of the chippings have gone and people have reverted to normal speed.
However you are right and I should have used another road for my run. Thanks
>> In your vid, it says "ignoring warning signs - being forced to brake"
>>
>> If the driver ignores road signs, then he's more than likely to ignore your little
>> gadget as well.
>>
>> Talking of ignoring signs, I see you ignored the 10 mph advisory signs for loose
>> chippings during your road test ;)
>>
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new version of fuel saver head up display - sherlock47
