Great news for hypermilers: Nissan’s developing a new high-tech accelerator pedal that will force you to drive more efficiently. The “ECO Pedal” is equipped with sensors that detect any excess pressure or poor fuel economy and then literally pushes back against your foot to correct wasteful driving habits. I’ve heard of engines that shut down cylinders when they’re not needed, but this seems like a scary new level of artificial intelligence.
While the accelerator with a mind of its own concept might be unsettling to some drivers, there’s a growing subculture that’s willing to voluntarily drive 55mph to conserve oil — albeit a small one. So maybe Nissan’s not as off the mark with this innovation as it seems. According to Nissan, the ‘smart’ pedal could give your fuel economy a boost of 5-10% starting next year. Still, the best part about the ECO Pedal might be that fact that the driver can switch it on or off at random.
[tags]nissan green friendly, nissan pressure pedal, nissan reactive pedal[/tags]