Bosch's smart accelerator pedal buzzes when you're burning more fuel than neededJan 27(AZINS) Bosch's latest creation is an accelerator pedal that provides haptic feedback through the driver's foot if he or she is going too heavy on the gas.

One of the reasons that a car's quoted fuel consumption figures, and the actual number of miles it manages to a gallon of fuel, can be so disparate has nothing to do with software cheat devices. It's usually because no two people drive in exactly the same way. And, according to Bosch, the difference between having a foot made of feathers and one made of lead is responsible for up to 25 percent of a vehicle's fuel use. So to help drivers' understanding of when to press down on and when to lift off the accelerator, in order to conserve fuel, it has built a "smart" pedal.

"The Bosch active gas pedal helps drivers save fuel -- and alerts them to potentially dangerous situations as well," said Stefan Seiberth, president of the Gasoline Systems division of Robert Bosch GmbH. Gentle haptic feedback, like that used on navigation touch screens, so that drivers know they've made contact without taking their eyes off the road, makes it clear when the line between speed and irresponsibility is being crossed. "The pedal tells the driver when the economy and acceleration curves intersect," explains Seiberth.

What's more, if the pedal is fitted to a car with the latest-generation sensors and assistance systems, it can also serve as an early warning system, prompting the driver if a bend is approaching and the car is currently travelling too quickly. It can also alert the driver if, for instance, they're accidentally travelling the wrong way along a stretch of road or if there is an obstacle over the horizon. All through vibration.

There are less high-tech ways of cutting fuel consumption but they usually require an eco-driving course and taking time to develop habits. Bosch claims that the active pedal alone is enough to cut both fuel consumption and CO2 emissions by 7 percent.

But that's just the start. If fitted to a hybrid vehicle, the pedal can prompt the driver as to the best time to coast -- i.e. roll without power from the combustion engine -- and can also give an alert when the combustion engine is needed again so that accelerator pressure can be increased accordingly for a smooth transition from electric to gasoline power.