Ecoroute Question

There are some old threads regarding Eco-Route. I believe it begins to penalize you as your speed increases above "optimum" which is about 40 MPH. There were quite a few posts about the idiotic way an "eco-route" would bypass the highway and route you on city streets with all the stop and go driving because it didn't want you to go above 40. The general feeling was it was a gimmick that is actually a very bad joke.

I used ecoroute one time, but stopped when it did the same thing to me, when the leaf turned yellow, red, or whatever it was. It appeared to be a gimick, kinda fun, but still pretty useless! I just drive like I have some sense, and my fuel mileage seems optimal to me.

When I use my 560 in the car, in AUTO mode, I get the Ecoroute symbol. It usually shows green from, say -- 45 MPH up to around 60 or maybe 65 MPH. I suspect that bit is controlled by how you set up the city MPG versus the highway MPG. But it's only a guess.

Ecoroute, built into the GPS unit is always making a best guess of your driving style, how fast you accelerate, the speed you are driving and how fast you decelerate. Since the basic, built in Ecoroute is not communicating with your car's computers, it is at best am estimation.

The Ecoroute HD accessory, which you have to buy separately, plugs into your car's diagnostic system, takes it readings directly from the vehicle and gives a much more accurate readings, plus a number of additional features that one may find useful.

As has been stated above, there are a number of threads about both ER & ER HD. I have the HD accessory and used it for quiet some time, but no longer do. It essentially confirmed what I already knew about my driving and not much more.

I think nearly everyone finds that using "Faster Time" as their route preference is the best choice. "Less Fuel" ends up producing some weird routes that actual use more fuel. (Of course one should always review the entire route the GPS produces when you tap "Go" BEFORE you put the car in drive to make sure it does in lead you to where you want to go without any weird detours, whether or not you are using ER or ER HD.)

So, to sum up in, if you aren't a hypermileager, don't worry about Ecoroute, its mostly a gimick. If you are a hypermileager, get the HD accessory if it works with your unit.

I just got back from a long trip from Edmonton AB Canada to Mesa AZ via Vegas. All the way down the leaf went red as soon as I pulled onto a freeway until I got to Vegas. After that it worked as I would have suspected on freeways and surface streets. I am at a loss as to why it corrected itself in Vegas...LUCK I guess.

I still drive normally and only watch it from time to time. It seems to like 55 MPH where it gets 99 LEAFS.

Bob

I have a 265WT. I used to get the best reading at about 55 MPH on the freeway. Some time ago, after an update, it appears it has been corrected and gives the best reading at about 65 mph on the freeway now.
I can get 99 while traveling 65 MPH.

Been back just under a week and it is still working on local freeways. Map updates still have me driving through a field in the north west part of town but I still get 99 doing 100 Kph.

Bob