FIELD

This invention relates to improving the fuel efficiency of vehicles.

BACKGROUND

Improving fuel efficiency of a variety of vehicles continues to be an important challenge, especially given the role of fossil fuels in both climate change and international relations. Many approaches to different fuels, e.g., biodiesel and electric cars, have been proposed, as have many different engine designs. One previously overlooked area of research is improving the operation of existing vehicles.

SUMMARY

Systems and methods disclosed herein monitor the operation of a vehicle to measure the amount of fuel used, and to determine the portion of the fuel wasted (wherein in wasted generally refers to the amount of fuel consumed above a particular threshold, such as the amount of fuel used according to best practices). While the vehicle is operated, fuel use may be attributed to one of several categories that correspond to operation of the vehicle. By comparing the amount of fuel used with the amount of fuel wasted, the minimum amount of fuel that the operator might have used can be determined. The results of this monitoring may be presented to the operator to improve performance. In addition, the results may be provided to the operator's supervisor for use in tracking operator performance, providing training to the operator, and/or reconfiguring the vehicle.

The disclosed embodiments include an on-vehicle system for monitoring fuel-use. The system might include one or more sensors, a processor and a data storage device that stores program instructions and information which, when executed by the processor, configures the system to attribute the fuel used to one of a plurality of fuel-use categories within respective time frames, wherein the categories include a plurality of wasted fuel categories and at least one non-wasted fuel category. The system determines the minimum amount of fuel required for a sequence of the time frames based on the amount fuel attributed to the wasted categories and the amount of fuel used attributed to the non-wasted categories.

Other embodiments include a method for monitoring the fuel use of a vehicle. The method may include attributing the fuel used by the vehicle to one of a plurality of fuel-use categories within a respective plurality of time frames, wherein the categories include a plurality of wasted fuel categories and at least one non-wasted fuel category and determining the minimum amount of fuel required based on the amount fuel attributed to the wasted categories and the amount of fuel attributed to the non-wasted categories.

The wasted fuel categories may include, for example, high idle, excessive idle, excessive speed, gearing, progressive-low shifting and progressive-high shifting.

