eco:Drive by Fiat: becoming a more efficient driver
By: Ray Pinto /
Tags: carbon emissions, carbon footprint, eco:Drive™, environment, Parnterships, Sustainability, Waste Management
It’s not a new story, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t deserve to be told again! In 2008, Fiat introduced eco:Drive for Fiat Blue&Me powered by Microsoft, the first tool in the world to actually interact directly with drivers to analyse their habits at the wheel and make recommendations on how they can drive more efficiently.
We’ve been reading for years about how car manufacturers have been able to reduce vehicle emissions using smart technology. Despite this progress, you still get cars which emit different amounts of CO2 because drivers don’t switch to second gear at the same time or others brake too hard when approaching a roundabout! EcoDrive addresses that by advising drivers where they can make improvements.
For me, EcoDrive is an awesome project on a lot of fronts. Not only does it help reduce car emissions, but the fact that it involves drivers themselves in the process by empowering them with the responsibility for more efficient fuel usage is important in itself. It brings it closer to home and helps make the whole carbon footprint issue less abstract perhaps? Plus, as someone who works on environmental issues at Microsoft, this project is a case in point for two things: first, the vital role ICT can play as an enabler by helping other industries reduce their carbon footprints; and two, the great things that can be achieved when working with partners to develop exciting technologies on the Windows Embedded Auto software platform.
Want to read more?
• Here’s a case study we produced on EcoDrive.
• Jodie Kidd has a go! (From Carpages.co.uk).
• EcoDrive won the UK Fleet Environmental Award in the 2009 Fleet World Honours - read about it here.