Nissan Unveils Accelerator Pedal That Pushes Back to Save Fuel

For drivers who like to step on the gas but don't want a higher fuel bill, Nissan Motor on Monday unveiled an accelerator pedal that pushes back to help motorists get more mileage. Nissan's "Eco Pedal" system is the latest salvo in the fight between automakers to woo customers with technology that reduces fuel consumption. The pedal automatically pushes back on the foot when the system detects too much pressure on the accelerator, informing the driver that he or she is using more fuel than required, Nissan said. An eco-driving indicator fitted into the instrument panel shows real-time fuel consumption levels and indicates the optimal level for fuel-efficient driving, changing color when the driver surpasses it. Nissan said its research had shown that drivers can improve fuel efficiency by up to 10% with the system, which can also be turned off. Japan's third-largest automaker aims to introduce the pedal in its cars next year. Nissan's pedal is one step ahead of Toyota Motor Corp.'s "Eco Drive" panel, introduced in 2006, which tells the driver if a vehicle is being driven in a fuel-efficient manner. Copyright Agence France-Presse, 2008