Kyotango City Starts Eco-driving Project

Kyotango City, located in Kyoto Prefecture, launched a model eco-driving project in October 2004. This is the first attempt by a Japanese local government to promote eco-driving and reduce exhaust emissions such as carbon dioxide with the active cooperation of citizens and local businesses.

The project is being jointly carried out by the city together with the Nomura Research Institute and Horiba, Ltd., and promotes the installation of an in-vehicle eco-driving navigation system that instructs the driver on fuel-efficient driving. These systems are being installed in official vehicles, private vehicles and taxis. The system detects sudden accelerations, abrupt slowdowns, harsh braking and idling, and calls the driver's attention to these problems by means of a computer-generated voice and a monitor display. The data can be saved to assess effects.

The project will cost around 80 million yen (US$ 721,000), all of which is being subsidized by the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO). In total, 244 navigation systems will be installed, and their effectiveness examined after two months of use.

Although the project will end in March 2005, Kyotango City plans to continue lending the in-vehicle navigation systems out to drivers in the belief that this will contribute to implementing the Kyoto Protocol, increase awareness about the dangers of global warming and favorably influence other local communities.



Posted: 2005/03/02 11:15:39 AM
Japanese version