Ford EcoGuide helps drivers to save fuel by showing when to slow down and change gears based on situations ahead, even out of sight, such as junctions, speed limits and hills, writes Trish Whelan.
For saving fuel, avoiding unnecessary braking can be as important as avoiding unnecessary acceleration. Changing driving habits can cut fuel bills by as much as 12 per cent.
Commercial vehicle-first EcoGuide technology, which uses the vehicle’s sat nav to anticipate future driving situations that help inform the most fuel-efficient way to drive. It analyses driving behaviour and offers feedback via the instrument cluster to help achieve the best efficiency for the road conditions ahead.
Based on this information, the system prompts the driver to decelerate, while the vehicle’s gear shift indicator advises the ideal gear, using icons in the instrument cluster, to avoid unnecessary braking or acceleration. The system can provide a driver with feedback on how efficiently they’re driving via a ‘halo’ around the digital speed read-out.
It will first be introduced to new Ford Transit, Transit Custom van and Tourneo Custom people mover from mid 2019.
The new Transit delivers increased load-carrying capability and upgraded powertrains that improve fuel efficiency by up to 7 per cent. It also offers a segment-first new diesel EcoBlue Hybrid powertrain option that delivers an addition fuel efficiency improvement of around 3 per cent compared with the standard diesel model (up to 8 per cent in stop-start urban applications). New Transit also operators the benefits of FordPass Connect on-board modem technology which will help fleet professionals to improve vehicle utilisation and optimise running costs.
