Owners Manual

Automotive Equipment

Optimized fuel economy from A to B:
ECO2 navigation from Bosch
Route recommendations based on fuel efficiency

· Vehicle-specific data and driver profiles also included

· Lower fuel costs and reduced CO2 emissions

· Innovative navigation algorithms optimize energy balance

Nowadays, everyone is looking for new ways to protect the environment. Optimized fuel economy in car driving – that is what the new and unique route recommendations from Bosch are designed to do. Innovative navigation algorithms make it possible to lower fuel costs and reduce CO2 emissions at the same time. And compared to the fastest route, this option is also able to provide a more than acceptable driving time.

Better than the current systems that offer ecological route options, the development engineers in the Bosch Car Multimedia Division have designed a system that does not merely calculate the static average of the fastest and shortest route. The new ECO2 navigation system also takes those aspects and parameters into account that are significant in terms of ecology and economy. These include, first and foremost, such map-based parameters as the route profile – i.e. the road classification, the town and villages that have to be driven through or the number of intersections.

And then there are also the vehicle-specific parameters, such as the engine size, the transmission and the vehicle air resistance, along with any roof loads or trailers to be towed, and last but certainly not least, the driver-specific factors. Does the driver have more of a sporty driving style, with frequent acceleration and braking phases, or does s/he usually drive at the recommended speeds and drive defensively, anticipating traffic conditions ahead?

Main parameters: route, vehicle and driver profile
To obtain the best possible balance of energy on different types of routes and sections of routes, all the streets and roads with the same characteristics in the routing area concerned are divided into individual sections. The points between the different sections are marked by nodes, such as changes in road classification and intersections or entry and exit ramps, which are likely to use more fuel by requiring the driver to accelerate or brake or potentially involve waiting time with frequent starts and stops. A left turn, for example, is calculated with a longer waiting time and higher fuel consumption than a turn to the right. These parameters provide the basis to calculate the average speed it will take to drive through the individual sections.

Different speed-dependent fuel consumption curves are used to map the vehicle-specific characteristics in the ECO2 nav’s route calculation algorithms, such as air and roll resistance or the engine power of the corresponding vehicle. This vehicle-specific information is provided by the car-makers. Additional parameters for such vehicle accessories as roof boxes or trailers can also be integrated.

In addition, the driver’s own behavior is taken into consideration, using a model-based description of the individual’s driving style, whereby the driver can select from three different driving profiles for the route in question – sporty, normal or eco.

Fuel savings averaging nine percent
Extensive ECO2 trials run by Bosch engineers using realistic routes have come to an impressive result of an average of nine percent in fuel savings with a mere nine percent in time loss compared to the fastest route. With a driving time of an hour, for example, this translates as a negligible increase of less than six minutes with significant fuel savings at the same time.

To sum it up, the ECO2 nav system from Bosch offers pioneering route calculation that uses the communication options provided by permanently installed navigation systems networked with the vehicle as well as vehicle-specific consumption curves and characteristics. The fundamental advantages for both the vehicle and the driver – especially as compared to portable navigation solutions: a reduction of harmful exhaust emissions and greater fuel economy.

The new ECO2 nav system will be ready to go into production in the summer of 2010 and will then be subsequently integrated into the navigation systems of a number of different vehicles.