Bosch reveals 'active' gas pedal

Electronics wizard Bosch has unveiled its latest tool in the fight to reduce fuel consumption: the ‘active’ accelerator pedal.

Perhaps still smarting from Volkswagen's Dieselgate emissions scandal, the German tech giant says the pedal, which creates a ‘gentle’ vibration and can lighten accelerator pedal pressure, can reduce fuel consumption by up to seven per cent.

"[The pedal’s] gentle vibration tells drivers when they have crossed the line from light touch to lead foot,” says the company.

“The Bosch active gas pedal helps drivers save fuel – and alerts them to potentially dangerous situations as well,” says Stefan Seiberth, president of the Gasoline Systems division of Robert Bosch GmbH.

To provide maximum efficiency the pedal can be networked with other vehicular functions, such as the transmission, and can therefore prompt drivers to change gear. Prompt is the operative word here; if the driver wants to add more speed, the throttle pressure can still be increased.

“The pedal tells the driver when the economy and acceleration curves intersect,” Seiberth explains.

In hybrid applications the pedal works with the on-board computers to provide advance warning of when the traditional combustion engine will restart, while the pedal can also be programmed to provide an alert to indicate when coasting mode should be accessed.

Beyond the economy benefits the Bosch pedal is said to aid safety, too.
If the pedal is installed on a vehicle with assistance systems such as satellite-navigation or road-sign recognition cameras, it can provide the driver with a haptic warning signal, aiding the driver to, say, reduce speed in preparation for a bend, or to warn of traffic jams on the road ahead.

Additionally, the pedal can work in conjunction with a collision warning system, allowing a vibrating signal to be sent through to the driver’s right foot.

As we move further towards autonomous driving and connected mobility, is the Bosch active accelerator a gimmick, or worthwhile technology during this transitional phase? Let us know your thoughts.