Audi Travolution Project Minimizes Red Lights and Emissions

Its been said many times, but maybe not enough, that its not just what you drive but how you drive that effects your fuel economy. This point was comically illustrated by the boys at TOP GEAR by pitting a Prius against a M3, with the M3 coming out on top. Of course this was done tongue in cheek, but that point is driving style has a very large impact on efficiency. Driving style also can impact the were and tear to your vehicle and therefore maintenance costs.

When I was just learning to drive, my grandfather showed me that one of the main highways could be driven at 2-3 mph below the speed limit and you would never stop at a red light for 20 miles (thanks to the co-ordinated timing of the lights every 2-3 miles). Even with heavier traffic the worst that would happen is you would have to coast a little at the light where stopped traffic had built up. Of course this was more efficient, less wear and tear and would take the same time to do the trip at the speed limit or above it. This worked because of the timing of the lights and unfortunately is more the exception than the rule when it comes to engineering traffic. This system by Audi could allow you to do the same type of thing even without knowing the history of a particular road and how to drive it efficiently. Lots of technology involved but certainly an interesting concept.

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w209w114 - 8/6/2008 1:32:50 PM

+4 Boost

Great technology. Here in Miami we have a strip of US1 highway (its not really a highway since the speed limit is 45 and it has 3 narrow lanes surrounded with tons of retail businesses) in which if you go exactly what the speed limit says, you would not end up having to stop at every red light. I do it all the time as cars fly by me I always end up flying by them at the red lights since I never had to stop.

mpwr - 8/6/2008 1:44:51 PM

+2 Boost

exactly

VISO - 8/6/2008 2:14:45 PM

+2 Boost

Now that's a good way to spend money Audi! Props to you!

Sarcastic1 - 8/6/2008 3:32:51 PM

+2 Boost

This is great technology! This is going to cut down, potentially, on traffic accidents, tickets, and near misses. I really hope this catches on in the US! They said it was about 1.2 million euros to develop on a small scale, but I wonder what it would cost to implement that in a city like New York or Boston.

mpwr - 8/6/2008 4:07:25 PM

+1 Boost

thats the thing, do the systems that already exist allow it to be tied together. Would it be new from the ground up? Sounds like it would be cost prohibitive on a large scale. If it was implemented it certianly would change driving styles drastically.

sector - 8/6/2008 6:25:25 PM

-2 Boost

Great, this will lead to more accidents and hit pedestrians, seeing that people will be driving like they're playin' gameboy :(

aarononymous - 8/6/2008 10:16:41 PM

+2 Boost

I guess fwd pos doesn't apply here? Good job Audi, start bringing this stuff to the US please.

Audiphile - 8/6/2008 10:41:22 PM

+3 Boost

Way to go, Audi!