Rapid acceleration and deceleration reduce a vehicle’s fuel economy.
“Smart pedal” devices promise to smooth out a driver’s acceleration patterns and minimize the amount of fuel that’s wasted in the process.
To evaluate the effectiveness of these devices and identify potential fuel savings, the California Department of Transportation installed the technology on six fleet vehicles and monitored their performance.
After nearly two months of use under real-world conditions, researchers compared the fuel economy of the vehicles with “smart pedal” systems and those without. The findings could potentially help transportation agencies reduce the amount of greenhouse gases emitted by their fleets.
Read the two-page research brief: Evaluating the Effectiveness of “Smart Pedal” Systems for Vehicle Fleets, February 2023
Image source: National Center for Sustainable Transportation