Vehicle Efficiency Score Display for Driver Feedback
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Solution Overview
Problem
Drivers of hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs), plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), and battery electric vehicles (BEVs often fail to achieve desired fuel economy or energy efficiency due to inadequate understanding of efficient driving techniques, as they are overwhelmed by the vast amount of information available from sensing electronics and computers.
Innovation Solution
An information display system that calculates an economy level score based on energy consumption rate, incrementing or decrementing it based on thresholds, and displays this score using indicators to encourage efficient driving habits, with the score being hidden until a certain level is reached and becoming increasingly difficult to advance as the score rises.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If drivers are provided with extensive information from sensing electronics and computers, then the amount of information available to drivers increases, but drivers become overwhelmed and unable to achieve desired fuel economy
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts only the most critical driving parameters (energy consumption rate, throttle position, brake application, gear selection) from the vast amount of available vehicle data and uses these to calculate the efficiency score, filtering out unnecessary information to prevent driver overload
Solution Approach 2:
The system transforms complex multi-parameter vehicle operation data into a single, easily interpretable efficiency score that changes based on driving behavior, allowing drivers to understand their performance without being overwhelmed by raw sensor data
2Loss of information
If drivers are given detailed information about vehicle operation, then understanding of vehicle capabilities improves, but drivers still fail to translate this into efficient driving habits
Solution Approach 1:
The system provides continuous feedback through the efficiency score that directly reflects the driver's impact on fuel economy, creating a closed-loop system where drivers can immediately see the consequences of their driving choices and adjust behavior accordingly
Solution Approach 2:
The efficiency score dynamically changes based on real-time driving parameters, providing drivers with actionable information about how their specific actions (throttle input, braking, gear selection) affect overall fuel economy rather than just presenting static vehicle capability data
3Loss of information
If the economy level score is displayed continuously, then driver awareness of efficiency levels increases, but the motivational effect decreases over time
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses periodic revelation of the efficiency score through level promotions and hidden thresholds, creating moments of discovery and achievement rather than continuous display, which maintains driver engagement and motivational effect over time
4Ease of operation
If the system provides straightforward efficiency information, then ease of understanding improves, but the engagement and motivation of drivers decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system nests multiple levels of efficiency achievement within the economy level score, with each level containing smaller achievement thresholds, creating a tiered structure that provides both simple overall status and deeper engagement opportunities for motivated drivers
Data Source
AI summary
An information display system includes an information display that communicates relevant information relating to the operation of a vehicle. The information display conveys a score representing lifetime or long-term driving or operating efficiency of the vehicle. The score can be conveyed numerically or graphically using a number of indicators, or both. Each indicator may correspond to a different achievement level attained for efficient driving or vehicle use behavior.