Patent ID: 8433473
Filing Date: 2013-04-30
Classification: B60K,Y02T

Abstract:
1. A system for indicating to a passenger an efficiency level of energy usage by an automotive vehicle with a passenger compartment, the system comprising: a computer-readable storage medium; a controller in communication with the storage medium, the controller being configured to receive a plurality of energy usage signals, to process the energy usage signals to obtain indications of energy usage amounts that the passenger can control while maintaining a given operating mode of the automotive vehicle, and to determine the efficiency level of energy usage by the automotive vehicle based on the energy usage amounts for the given operating mode of the automotive vehicle; an interior-lighting system in electrical communication with the controller to illuminate at least a portion of the passenger compartment with ambient light having defined characteristics including a luminance and a color, at least one of the characteristics of the ambient light indicating the efficiency level; and a display unit in electrical communication with the controller to display for the passenger a graphical representation of the efficiency level of the automotive vehicle.