I trust my car’s GPS blindly. Has it steered me wrong in the past? Oh yes. It completely misunderstands West Hollywood’s North Sweetzner Avenue, for example. But usually, we have a great relationship. This is because my GPS has been a great teacher. The soothing female voice is always very calm, never gets angry, and is always ready to show me how to make the best of even the most infuriating traffic-related situation. It shows me the fastest route, the most scenic route, and even the route that avoids the most traffic. If I’m hungry, she shows me where to eat. If I need gas, she takes me there. I own no maps of Los Angeles, and have no plan-b’s. If she told me to run through a mall naked and screaming, I’d probably listen to her. Thank god she doesn’t speak to me when I’m not sitting in my car … or does she ... ?
She doesn’t, don’t worry. But I may soon have to break up with her ... cuz I've found somebody new.
The Vexia Econav GPS system (www.vexia.co.uk) is identical to just about every other GPS system on the market, except that it allows the driver to optimize his or her trip for maximum conservation of energy. When I first heard about this, I thought it would just show the driver the shortest route to the chosen destination. But, I was wrong. I was very very wrong.
The Econav immediately knows more about your car than you do. It allows the driver to customize every aspect of their trip, including, but not limited to, gear choice, how hard to press down on the accelerator, and how far to trail the car in front of you. By mapping certain wasteful actions onto the color red, like speeding and braking too fast, the GPS guides the driver towards a more energy-conscious driving technique, saving them money and energy over time. Here's a "Stuff.TV" piece showing the Econav's many uses.
Do I always want to be forced to drive as green as possible? No, of course not. If I’m in a hurry, the last thing I want to think about is saving the environment. That's why the Econav allows me to decide which functions I want to use at which times, and it doesn’t lay a guilt trip on me when I make a mistake (unlike my current GPS).
But, when it’s all said and done, it’s about learning how to drive well. In the same way that my GPS taught me about all the nooks and crannies in Los Angeles, the Econav will teach me all the ways to green up your driving habits. Sure, I have to say goodbye to an old fling. But, I think it's probably healthy for that relationship to end anyway.
*Images and info from www.vexia.co.uk
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