Listen to your car and save money, energy
A little experiment will soon be under way that aims to reduce fuel consumption and lower emissions in the average family vehicle.
It has nothing to do fuel cells, or hydrogen, or hybrid technology, or even ethanol and biodiesel. The focus of this experiment is driver behaviour, and getting people to take better care of their cars.
“ Over the past two years I have become aware of how much money you can waste, and of the kind of latent, poor driving behaviour everyone has,” says Gord Echlin, chief executive officer of Kanata, Ont.- based Netistix Technologies Corp.
Netistix is a vehicle telematics company, with a focus on extracting information out of a car’s computer system to help owners diagnose problems, stay on top of maintenance, and improve the overall performance and efficiency of what is essentially a machine on four wheels.
“ It can tell how the vehicle is being driven, it can tell fuel consumption, it can tell whether there are any diagnostic trouble codes,” explains Echlin. The company’s business since 2003 has been to install its technology in police cars, delivery trucks, municipal and utility vehicles, or any other fleet that can benefit by tapping into the onboard sensors and chips that have been built into most cars, light- duty trucks and SUVs since 1996. Customers include Ottawa Police Services, Manitoba Hydro and parcel- delivery company CanPar.
It’s all about proactive vehicle maintenance and real- time feedback, which can lead to a longer lasting, safer, and more fuel-efficient drive. The idea, which isn’t particularly novel, is that knowledge can empower consumers to make better decisions, not unlike the move toward smart meters and in- home energy displays as a way to encourage conservation and a more balanced use of electricity in the home. But why stop at vehicle fleets?
Last month, Sustainable Development Technology Canada ( SDTC) agreed to partially fund a $ 1.4 million project, led by Netistix, that will try to turn the company’s fleet technology into a low- cost consumer service.
“It targets consumers who wish to reduce emissions, fuel, and lifecycle costs, while improving vehicle reliability and safety,” according to SDTC’s description of the project. “ An education program will be developed to inform consumers where improvements can be made to reduce fuel consump-
tion and operation costs.”
Project partners include the Automotive Industry Association of Canada, Carleton University and Petro- Canada Certigard. And since the technology’s goal is to improve driving behaviour and the condition of vehicles, interest is also emerging from the insurance industry. The immediate challenge is to shrink the technology, an onboard black box. Netistix must also design the service at a nice price point and figure out how the data will be collected, analyzed and conveniently presented to the consumer.
Wi-Fi wireless networks are expected to play a role. The plan is to set up wireless hotspots or access points at select service stations, which is where PetroCanada Certigard becomes relevant. When a car equipped with this technology stops for gas, the goal is to have the vehicle data automatically uploaded through the wireless hotspot to a computer server. The raw data is then turned into an easy-to-understand report, which would ideally be viewed through a Web portal or on- site kiosk. Echlin says notifications could also be sent to Blackberry devices or as text messages to mobile phones.
“ We’re going to give you feedback over an extended period and help you keep a scorecard of what you’re doing ( with your car),” he says. “ We’re going to tell you there’s a problem, say, with your emission control system, and if you get it fixed this will save you X amount. And by the way, here’s where you can get it fixed.” The demonstration is expected to begin in mid- 2006 and last nine months. Echlin figures 300 consumers will participate at 10 sites spread across Canada and likely clustered around a Petro- Canada Certigard station. One of the main purposes of the demonstration is to figure out whether average folks would use such a product, which does require some commitment on the part of the consumer. Given the fact that most people don’t exercise or eat well when told to by their doctors, who’s to say they’ll act differently when it comes to their car?
“ People get excited about things and you get early adopters and then it goes by the wayside as people find it’s not effective,” Echlin cautions. “That’s sometimes because you didn’t do the right things, or didn’t give people the right feedback. We want to make sure we push the right buttons and have the right collection of benefits for consumers.”
He’s convinced that if people used it, it would make a difference for all. “ I absolutely believe if everybody took the time to change a little bit, it would have a huge effect.” And it’s not just consumers — and the environment — that stand to benefit. Steve Millstein, CEO of ATX Group, one of largest telematics service providers to the automotive industry, told a group of analysts in New York earlier this year that the technology will forge closer relationships between car owners and automotive dealerships.
This all sounds great, as long as the reports and notifications don’t evolve into full- on nagging. We’ve already got personal trainers and mothers for that. Clean Break reports on emerging green technologies every second Monday. Reach Tyler Hamilton at thamilt@thestar.ca