Honda’s Ecological Drive Assist System (EDAS)

Written by: Aaron Turpen

I think Treehugger.com is right when they call it the “Econo-Nag” system. It’s a speedometer that changes color according to how you’re driving. Remember the similar systems from Ford and Nissan we’ve talked about before, the Ford system using a similar color indicator and the Subaru using forced feedback on the throttle?

Well, it looks like Honda is in on the act. While this idea is pretty good and I’m sure that all major car companies (that don’t go bankrupt) will be sporting something similar soon, I tend to think it’s kind of a waste of time. Drivers generally know whether what they’re doing is “economical” or not and those that don’t likely won’t change just because some gadget is telling them to.

How many people do you know who drive around for months with a “check engine” light on because they know it’s just the computer telling them to spend $50 extra at the mechanic to have it plugged in and turned off? I confess that I personally know how and have overridden this in my wife’s Honda using nothing but a screwdriver and a chunk of spare speaker wire.

What will happen is these will be all the marketing craze over the next year or two and then will be forgotten because most of us (or at least, those who have them) will learn to ignore them just as we ignore most over-played television commercials and skip over get-rich-quick websites without even blinking.

Source: Treehugger