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n-focus: Dan Charles Leaping the Efficiency Gap Science 2009; 325: 804-811 [Summary] [Full text] [PDF]

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Controlled Studies of In-Car Fuel Efficiency Displays

Antony Hilliard   (21 September 2009)

Controlled Studies of In-Car Fuel Efficiency Displays 21 September 2009
Antony Hilliard, PhD Candidate University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada Respond to this E-Letter: Re: Controlled Studies of In-Car Fuel Efficiency Displays	D. Charles's story on saving energy ("Leaping the efficiency gap," News Focus, 14 August 2009, p. 804) reminded me of a relevant study. M. Van der Voort studied the effect of a fuel efficiency in-car display on driver behavior and vehicle performance (1, 2). Simulator studies showed 23% fuel savings in urban environments and 16% overall. Control groups that were asked to drive as fuel efficiently as possible saved only 9%. The results were later verified through field studies. Great work—it's a shame a project sponsor didn't fund any continuation. Antony Hilliard University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada. References 1. M. van der Voort, M. S. Dougherty, M. van Maarseveen, Transport. Res. C-Emer. 9, 279 (2001); www.aida.utwente.nl/research/publications/voort_dougherty_maarseveen.pdf. 2. M. C. van der Voort, thesis, University of Twente (2001).