Patent Publication Number: US-2021190522-A1

Title: Vehicle efficiency evaluation system, in-vehicle device, management execution device, and application program

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     1. Field 
     The present disclosure relates to a vehicle efficiency evaluation system, an in-vehicle device, a management execution device, and an application program. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2012-118783 discloses a system that obtains fuel economy of each vehicle through a predetermined process and makes a ranking of vehicles on fuel economy. 
     The system of the above document does not overly motivate users to improve the fuel economy. There is thus insufficient motivation to encourage users to perform environmentally friendly driving. 
     SUMMARY 
     This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter. 
     In a first general aspect, a vehicle efficiency evaluation system includes a first execution device mounted on a vehicle, and a second execution device that is an out-of-vehicle device. The first execution device is configured to execute: an obtaining process that obtains a consumption variable, which is related to energy consumption of the vehicle, and a traveled distance variable, which is related to a traveled distance of the vehicle; and a variable transmitting process that transmits, to outside of the vehicle, an efficiency variable that corresponds to the consumption variable and the traveled distance variable, together with an identification variable of a user. The second execution device is configured to execute: a variable receiving process that receives the efficiency variable and the identification variable; a determination process that determines, on a basis of the efficiency variable, whether an energy use efficiency of the user identified by the identification variable meets a predetermined standard; and a reward-providing process that provides a reward to the user identified by the identification variable when the energy use efficiency of the user meets the predetermined standard. 
     When the user performs driving of which the energy use efficiency meets the predetermined standard, the above-described configuration provides the user with a reward for excellent driving of a high energy use efficiency. As compared to a case in which a reward is not provided, the user is motivated to perform driving of which the energy use efficiency meets the predetermined standard. The above-described configuration therefore sufficiently encourages the user to perform environmentally friendly driving. 
     The phrase “the second execution device that is an out-of-vehicle device” means that the second execution device is not an in-vehicle device. 
     In the above-described vehicle efficiency evaluation system, the reward-providing process preferably includes a notification process that notifies the user that a billing amount of an object provided to the user is discounted and a reason for the discount, and the provided object preferably includes at least one of a product or a service. 
     The above-described configuration notifies the user that the billing amount of the product or the service will be discounted and the reason for the discount, allowing the user to recognize the fact that he/she will enjoy the discount of the billing amount of the product or the service as the result of the driving he/she performed. Thus, the above-described configuration strongly motivates the user to try to perform driving of which the energy use efficiency meets the predetermined standard in the future. 
     In the above-described vehicle efficiency evaluation system, the second execution device is preferably configured to execute a software providing process that provides software to the vehicle, and the reward-providing process preferably includes a process that discounts a billing amount of the software. The first execution device is preferably configured to execute a software receiving process that receives the software provided by the software providing process. 
     The above-described configuration allows a user who has performed driving of which the energy use efficiency meets the predetermined standard to acquire paid software at a reduced price. This strongly motivates the user to try to perform driving of which the energy use efficiency meets the predetermined standard in the future. 
     In the above-described vehicle efficiency evaluation system, the second execution device is preferably configured to execute a software providing process that provides an updated version of software to the vehicle. The reward-providing process preferably includes a process that advances a time point of providing the software by the software providing process as compared to a user of whom the energy use efficiency is determined to fail to meet the predetermined standard. The first execution device is preferably configured to execute a software receiving process that receives the software provided by the software providing process. 
     The above-described configuration provides a user who has performed driving of which the energy use efficiency meets the predetermined standard with an updated version of the software prior to the release, so that the user recognizes that the driving he/she performed was positively evaluated. This strongly motivates the user to try to perform driving of which the energy use efficiency meets the predetermined standard in the future. 
     In the above-described vehicle efficiency evaluation system, the second execution device is preferably configured to execute a storing process that stores a combination of a determination result and the identification variable in a memory device when the energy use efficiency of the user meets the predetermined condition. The reward-providing process preferably provides a reward on a basis of the determination result stored in the memory device, and the determination result stored in the memory device is preferably associated with the user even when the user changes vehicles. 
     With the above-described configuration, when the user changes vehicles, the evaluation results acquired through driving of the vehicle prior to the change is retained. Thus, the correspondence between the user and his/her driving skills can be established independently of the vehicles. 
     In the above-described vehicle efficiency evaluation system, the obtaining process preferably includes an identifying process that identifies whether a road on which the vehicle is traveling is a general road or an expressway. If an amount of energy required for the vehicle to travel a unit distance is the same, the energy use efficiency is preferably higher in a case in which the vehicle is traveling on a general road than in a case in which the vehicle is traveling on an expressway. 
     In general, a driver is forced to decelerate more often when driving on a general road than when driving on an expressway. The energy use efficiency thus tends to lower on general roads. Accordingly, with the above-described configuration, if the amount of energy required for the vehicle to travel the unit distance is the same, the energy use efficiency used by the determination process is quantified such that the energy use efficiency has a higher value in a case in which the vehicle is traveling on a general road than in a case in which the vehicle is traveling on an expressway. Thus, even if the user drives on general roads relatively frequently, the energy use efficiency is unlikely to fail to meet the predetermined standard solely due to the frequent driving on general roads. 
     In a second general aspect, an in-vehicle device is employed in a vehicle efficiency evaluation system. The vehicle efficiency evaluation system preferably includes a first execution device mounted on a vehicle and a second execution device that is an out-of-vehicle device. The first execution device is configured to execute: an obtaining process that obtains a consumption variable, which is related to energy consumption of the vehicle, and a traveled distance variable, which is related to a traveled distance of the vehicle; and a variable transmitting process that transmits, to outside of the vehicle, an efficiency variable that corresponds to the consumption variable and the traveled distance variable, together with an identification variable of a user. The second execution device is configured to execute: a variable receiving process that receives the efficiency variable and the identification variable; a determination process that determines, on a basis of the efficiency variable, whether an energy use efficiency of the user identified by the identification variable meets a predetermined standard; and a reward-providing process that provides a reward to the user identified by the identification variable when the energy use efficiency of the user meets the predetermined standard. The in-vehicle device includes the first execution device. 
     In a third general aspect, a management execution device is employed in a vehicle efficiency evaluation system. The vehicle efficiency evaluation system includes a first execution device mounted on a vehicle and a second execution device that is an out-of-vehicle device. The first execution device is configured to execute: an obtaining process that obtains a consumption variable, which is related to energy consumption of the vehicle, and a traveled distance variable, which is related to a traveled distance of the vehicle; and a variable transmitting process that transmits, to outside of the vehicle, an efficiency variable that corresponds to the consumption variable and the traveled distance variable, together with an identification variable of a user. The second execution device is configured to execute: a variable receiving process that receives the efficiency variable and the identification variable; a determination process that determines, on a basis of the efficiency variable, whether an energy use efficiency of the user identified by the identification variable meets a predetermined standard; and a reward-providing process that provides a reward to the user identified by the identification variable when the energy use efficiency of the user meets the predetermined standard. The reward-providing process includes a notification process that notifies the user that a billing amount of an object provided to the user is discounted and a reason for the discount. The provided object includes at least one of a product or a service. The second execution device includes the management execution device, which is an execution device included as part of a vehicle group managing device, and a terminal execution device mounted in a portable terminal of the user. The notification process includes a displaying process that operates a display unit of the portable terminal to display a fact that a billing amount of a service provided to the user is discounted and a reason for the discount. The management execution device is configured to execute, at least: the variable receiving process that receives the efficiency variable and the identification variable transmitted by the variable transmitting process in each of multiple vehicles; the determination process; and a result transmitting process that transmits data related to a determination result of the determination process. The terminal execution device is configured to execute, at least: a result receiving process that receives the data transmitted by the result transmitting process; and the displaying process. 
     With the above-described configuration, the use of the portable terminal allows the reward-providing process to be implemented without requiring higher specifications of the in-vehicle devices. 
     In a fourth general aspect, a management execution device is employed in a vehicle efficiency evaluation system. The vehicle efficiency evaluation system includes a first execution device mounted on a vehicle and a second execution device that is an out-of-vehicle device. The first execution device is configured to execute: an obtaining process that obtains a consumption variable, which is related to energy consumption of the vehicle, and a traveled distance variable, which is related to a traveled distance of the vehicle; and a variable transmitting process that transmits, to outside of the vehicle, an efficiency variable that corresponds to the consumption variable and the traveled distance variable, together with an identification variable of a user. The second execution device is configured to execute: a variable receiving process that receives the efficiency variable and the identification variable; a determination process that determines, on a basis of the efficiency variable, whether an energy use efficiency of the user identified by the identification variable meets a predetermined standard; and a reward-providing process that provides a reward to the user identified by the identification variable when the energy use efficiency of the user meets the predetermined standard. The second execution device is configured to execute a software providing process that provides an updated version of software to the vehicle. The reward-providing process includes a process that advances a time point of providing the software by the software providing process as compared to a user of whom the energy use efficiency is determined to fail to meet the predetermined standard. The first execution device is configured to execute a software receiving process that receives the software provided by the software providing process. The second execution device includes the management execution device, which is an execution device included as part of a vehicle group managing device, and a terminal execution device mounted in a portable terminal of the user. The reward-providing process includes a displaying process that operates a display unit of the portable terminal to display a fact that a time point at which the updated version of the software is provided is advanced, and a reason for the advancement of the time point. The management execution device is configured to execute, at least: the variable receiving process that receives the efficiency variable and the identification variable transmitted by the variable transmitting process in each of multiple vehicles; the determination process; and a result transmitting process that transmits data related to a determination result of the determination process. The terminal execution device is configured to execute, at least: a result receiving process that receives the data transmitted by the result transmitting process; and the displaying process. 
     With the above-described configuration, the use of the portable terminal allows the reward-providing process to be implemented without requiring higher specifications of the in-vehicle devices. 
     In a fifth general aspect, an application program is employed in a vehicle efficiency evaluation system and executed by a portable terminal of a user. The vehicle efficiency evaluation system includes a first execution device mounted on a vehicle, and a second execution device that is an out-of-vehicle device. The first execution device is configured to execute: an obtaining process that obtains a consumption variable, which is related to energy consumption of the vehicle, and a traveled distance variable, which is related to a traveled distance of the vehicle; and a variable transmitting process that transmits, to outside of the vehicle, an efficiency variable that corresponds to the consumption variable and the traveled distance variable, together with an identification variable of a user. The second execution device is configured to execute: a variable receiving process that receives the efficiency variable and the identification variable; a determination process that determines, on a basis of the efficiency variable, whether an energy use efficiency of the user identified by the identification variable meets a predetermined standard; and a reward-providing process that provides a reward to the user identified by the identification variable when the energy use efficiency of the user meets the predetermined standard. The reward-providing process includes a notification process that notifies the user that a billing amount of an object provided to the user is discounted and a reason for the discount. The provided object includes at least one of a product or a service. The second execution device includes the management execution device, which is an execution device included by a vehicle group managing device, and a terminal execution device mounted in a portable terminal of the user. The notification process includes a displaying process that operates a display unit of the portable terminal to display a fact that a billing amount of a service provided to the user is discounted and a reason for the discount. The management execution device is configured to execute, at least: the variable receiving process that receives the efficiency variable and the identification variable transmitted by the variable transmitting process in each of multiple vehicles; the determination process; and a result transmitting process that transmits data related to a determination result of the determination process. The terminal execution device is configured to execute, at least: a result receiving process that receives the data transmitted by the result transmitting process; and the displaying process. The application program is configured to cause the portable terminal to execute the result receiving process and the displaying process. 
     Other features and aspects will be apparent from the following detailed description, the drawings, and the claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a diagram showing a vehicle efficiency evaluation system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 2  is a flowchart showing the procedure of processes executed by a controller in a vehicle. 
         FIG. 3  is a flowchart showing a procedure of processes executed by a vehicle group managing device. 
         FIGS. 4A to 4C  are flowcharts showing a procedure of processes executed by the vehicle efficiency evaluation system. 
     
    
    
     Throughout the drawings and the detailed description, the same reference numerals refer to the same elements. The drawings may not be to scale, and the relative size, proportions, and depiction of elements in the drawings may be exaggerated for clarity, illustration, and convenience. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     This description provides a comprehensive understanding of the methods, apparatuses, and/or systems described. Modifications and equivalents of the methods, apparatuses, and/or systems described are apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art. Sequences of operations are exemplary, and may be changed as apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art, with the exception of operations necessarily occurring in a certain order. Descriptions of functions and constructions that are well known to one of ordinary skill in the art may be omitted. 
     Exemplary embodiments may have different forms, and are not limited to the examples described. However, the examples described are thorough and complete, and convey the full scope of the disclosure to one of ordinary skill in the art. 
     A vehicle efficiency evaluation system according to an embodiment will now be described with reference to the drawings. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , a vehicle VC 1  includes an internal combustion engine  10 . Rotational force of the internal combustion engine  10  is transmitted to driven wheels  16  via a toque converter  12  and a transmission  14 . The vehicle VC 1  is equipped with a controller  20 . The controller  20  controls the internal combustion engine  10 . The controller  20  operates operated units of the internal combustion engine  10 , such as a fuel injection valve, thereby controlling, for example, the torque and the ratios of exhaust components. The controller  20  receives positional data Pgps output by a global positioning system (GPS  17 ) and an output signal Sw of a wheel rotation sensor  18 , which detects a rotation angle of the driven wheels  16 . 
     The controller  20  includes a CPU  22 , a ROM  24 , a nonvolatile memory that can be electrically rewritten (memory device  26 ), peripheral circuitry  27 , and a communication device  28 . The CPU  22 , the ROM  24 , the memory device  26 , the peripheral circuitry  27 , and the communication device  28  are connected together through a local network  29  to communicate with one another. The peripheral circuitry  27  includes a circuit that generates a clock signal regulating internal operations, a power supply circuit, and a reset circuit. 
     The user of the vehicle VC 1  carries a portable terminal  30 . The portable terminal  30  includes a CPU  32 , a nonvolatile memory that can be electrically rewritten (memory device  34 ), a display unit  35 , a touch panel  36 , which is overlapped with the display unit  35 , peripheral circuitry  37 , and a communication device  38 . The CPU  32 , the memory device  34 , the display unit  35 , the touch panel  36 , the peripheral circuitry  37 , and the communication device  38  are connected together through a local network  39  to communicate with one another. The memory device  34  stores an application program  34   a.    
     A vehicle group managing device  40  manages data transmitted from multiple vehicles VC 1 , VC 2 , . . . . The vehicle group managing device  40  includes a CPU  42 , a ROM  44 , a nonvolatile memory that can be electrically rewritten (memory device  46 ), peripheral circuitry  47 , and a communication device  48 . The CPU  42 , the ROM  44 , the memory device  46 , the peripheral circuitry  47 , and the communication device  48  are connected together through a local network  49  to communicate with one another. 
     A sales-repair facility terminal  50  is installed in a sales-repair facility, which is a sales facility and a repair shop for the vehicle VC 1 . The sales-repair facility terminal  50  includes a CPU  52 , a nonvolatile memory that can be electrically rewritten (memory device  54 ), peripheral circuitry  57 , and a communication device  58 . The CPU  52 , the memory device  54 , the peripheral circuitry  57 , and the communication device  58  are connected together through a local network  59  to communicate with one another. 
     The controller  20  is capable of communicating with the portable terminal  30 , the vehicle group managing device  40 , and the sales-repair facility terminal  50  through a network  60 . 
       FIG. 2  shows a procedure of processes executed by the controller  20 . The process shown in  FIG. 2  is performed by the CPU  22  repeatedly executing programs stored in the ROM  24  at a predetermined interval. 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , the CPU  22  first obtains an injection amount Q of the internal combustion engine  10  (S 10 ). The CPU  22  then obtains the positional data Pgps (S 12 ). On the basis of the positional data Pgps, the CPU  22  determines whether the road on which the vehicle VC 1  is traveling is a general road (S 14 ). In this case, the CPU  22  simply needs to determine whether one of the roads on the geographical map data stored in the memory device  26  that corresponds to the positional data Pgps is a general road. If the road on which the vehicle VC 1  is traveling is a general road (S 14 : YES), the CPU  22  multiplies the injection amount Q by a predetermined coefficient K, which is less than 1, thereby correcting the injection amount Q (S 16 ). The coefficient K is used to compensate for variation of the amount of fuel consumption due to causes other than the driving skills and the driving habit of the user. The deceleration operation is performed more frequently while traveling on a general road than on an expressway. Accordingly, the injection amount Q required to travel the same distance is larger on a general road than on an expressway. The coefficient K is set on the basis of this factor. 
     When the process of S 16  is completed or when the determination is negative in the process of S 14 , the CPU  22  adds the injection amount Q to an injection integrated value InQ to update the injection integrated value InQ stored in the memory device  26  (S 18 ). Next, the CPU  22  determines whether the injection integrated value InQ is greater than or equal to a threshold Inth (S 20 ). When the injection integrated value InQ is greater than or equal to the threshold Inth (S 20 : YES), the CPU  22  obtains a traveled distance RL, which is the distance traveled by the vehicle VC 1  during a period of time in which the injection integrated value InQ changes from zero to the threshold Inth (S 22 ). The traveled distance RL is calculated by the CPU  22  on the basis of the output signal Sw of the wheel rotation sensor  18 . 
     The CPU  22  divides the traveled distance RL obtained in the process of S 22  by a reference distance RL 0  to calculate a fuel-economy variable Ve, and initializes the injection integrated value InQ (S 24 ). The higher the energy use efficiency increases as the fuel-economy variable Ve increases. In this description, energy refers to thermal energy generated when fuel is completely burned. The energy use efficiency refers to the ratio of the part of the thermal energy that is used to drive the vehicle VC 1 . 
     Then, the CPU  22  operates the communication device  28  to transmit identification information ID of the user of the vehicle VC 1  and the fuel-economy variable Ve to the vehicle group managing device  40  via the network  60  (S 26 ). 
     When the process of S 26  is completed or when the determination is negative in the process of S 20 , the CPU  22  temporarily suspends the series of processes shown in  FIG. 2 . 
       FIG. 3  shows a procedure of processes executed by the vehicle group managing device  40 . The processes shown in  FIG. 3  are performed by the CPU  42  repeatedly executing programs stored in the ROM  44  at a predetermined interval. 
     In the series of processes shown in  FIG. 3 , the CPU  42  receives the identification information ID and the fuel-economy variable Ve (S 30 ). Next, the CPU  42  updates a determination fuel-economy variable Ver with the fuel-economy variable Ve, which has been newly received in the process of S 30  (S 32 ). The memory device  46  stores multiple values of the fuel-economy variable Ve. Some of the stored values are associated with the identification information ID. The determination fuel-economy variable Ver is the average of those associated values. This process is performed by storing, in the memory device  46 , the number of times the fuel-economy variable Ve is received in the process of S 30 , multiplying the determination fuel-economy variable Ver by the stored number of times, adding the product to a newly received value of the fuel-economy variable Ve, and dividing the sum by the value obtained by adding 1 to the stored number of times. Instead, the process may be performed by updating the determination fuel-economy variable Ver with an exponential moving average process value of the stored values of the determination fuel-economy variable Ver and the newly received value of the fuel-economy variable Ve. 
     Next, the CPU  42  determines whether the number of samples of the fuel-economy variable Ve has become greater than or equal to a predetermined value. The number of samples of the fuel-economy variable Ve is the number of times the fuel-economy variable Ve associated with the identification information ID has been received in the process of S 30  (S 34 ). This process determines whether the determination fuel-economy variable Ver is highly reliable as a value that represents the driving habits of the user identified by the identification information ID. 
     When the number of samples of the fuel-economy variable Ve is greater than or equal to the predetermined value (S 34 : YES), the CPU  42  determines whether the determination fuel-economy variable Ver is greater than or equal to a reference value Veth (S 36 ). The reference value Veth is the lower limit of the range of the determination fuel-economy variable Ver in the case of a good driver who drives a vehicle with a high fuel use efficiency. When the determination fuel-economy variable Ver is greater than or equal to the reference value Veth (S 36 : YES), the CPU  42  determines that the user is a good driver (S 38 ). 
     When the process of S 38  is completed or when the determination is negative in the process of S 36 , the CPU  32  stores, in the memory device  46 , the identification information ID and the determination result indicating whether the user identified by the identification information ID is a good driver (S 40 ). If the memory device  46  already has the determination result regarding the user identified by the identification information ID, the CPU  32  simply needs to update the determination result stored in the memory device  46  with the determination result of the current process. 
     When the process of S 40  is completed or when the determination is negative in the process of S 34 , the CPU  42  temporarily suspends the series of processes shown in  FIG. 3 . 
       FIGS. 4A to 4C  show a procedure for providing a reward to a user who has been determined to be a good driver. The process shown in  FIG. 4A  is implemented by the CPU  32  repeatedly executing the application program  34   a  stored in the memory device  34  of the portable terminal  30  at predetermined intervals. The process shown in  FIG. 4B  is implemented by the CPU  42  repeatedly executing a program stored in the ROM  44  of the vehicle group managing device  40  at predetermined intervals. The process shown in  FIG. 4C  is implemented by the CPU  22  repeatedly executing a program stored in the ROM  24  of the controller  20  at predetermined intervals. The procedure in which the user purchases a product or a service will be described with reference to the processes shown in  FIGS. 4A to 4C  according to the temporal sequence. 
     As shown in  FIG. 4A , the CPU  32  determines that a request for display of a product or a service has been made through manipulation of the touch panel  36  by the user (S 50 : YES). Then, the CPU  32  operates the communication device  38  to transmit the identification information ID of the user of the portable terminal  30  and a request signal requesting display of the product and the service to the vehicle group managing device  40  (S 52 ). 
     As shown in  FIG. 4B , the CPU  42  receives the identification information ID and the request signal (S 70 ). The CPU  42  then operates the communication device  48  to transmit, to the source of the data received in the process of S 70 , information related to the product and the service, and the above-described determination result related to the user identified by the identification information ID (S 72 ). The information related to the product and the service includes information about the billing amounts of the product and the service, which are, for example, the fee of the service and the price of the product. 
     As shown in  FIG. 4A , the CPU  32  receives the transmitted information related to the produce and the service and the determination result (S 54 ). Then, the CPU  32  determines whether the received determination result indicates that the user is a good driver (S 56 ). If the result indicates that the user is a good driver (S 56 : YES), the CPU  32  generates discount information for the transmitted product and service (S 58 ). That is, in the present embodiment, the application program  34   a  includes an instruction for calculation of a billing amount discounted for a good driver. The CPU  32  calculates a discounted billing amount in accordance with the instruction. If there is a latest updated version of a software that is yet to be released to the public, the CPU  32  generates, as the information related to the service, display information indicating that an updated version can be purchased prior to the release. 
     The CPU  32  operates the display unit  35  of the portable terminal  30  to display the billing amount of the service and the product (S 60 ). At this time, the CPU  32  displays, when it is the case, that the software can be purchased prior to the release or that the billing amount is discounted, with the reasons. 
     The CPU  32  then determines whether purchase of the updated version of the software has been instructed through manipulation of the touch panel  36  (S 62 ). If purchase of the updated version of the software has been instructed (S 62 : YES), the CPU  32  operates the communication device  38  to notify the vehicle group managing device  40  that the user has an intention to purchase the software (S 64 ). When the process of S 64  is completed or when the determination is negative in the processes of S 50 , S 62 , the CPU  32  temporarily suspends the series of processes shown in  FIG. 4A . 
     A shown in  FIG. 4B , the CPU  42  determines whether the user has an intention to purchase the updated version of the software (S 74 ). Whether the user has an intention to purchase the updated version of the software is determined on the basis of whether the user has actually determined to purchase it and manipulated the touch panel  36  to make a payment. If the user has an intention to purchase the updated version of the software (S 74 : YES), the CPU  42  operates the communication device  48  to transmit, to the vehicle VC 1  identified by the identification information ID, the version of the software for which the decision of purchase has been received (S 76 ). When the process of S 76  is completed or when the determination is negative in the process of S 74 , the CPU  42  temporarily suspends the series of processes shown in  FIG. 4B . 
     A shown in  FIG. 4C , the CPU  22  determines whether the software has been transmitted from the vehicle group managing device  40  (S 80 ). When the software is transmitted from the vehicle group managing device  40  (S 80 : YES), the CPU  22  receives the transmitted software (S 82 ). When the process of S 82  is completed or when the determination is negative in the process of S 80 , the CPU  22  temporarily suspends the series of processes shown in  FIG. 4C . 
     The vehicle group managing device  40  operates the communication device  48  to transmit, to the sales-repair facility terminal  50 , the identification information ID that identifies the user who has been determined to be a good driver, and the determination result indicating that the user is a good driver. The CPU  52  in the sales-repair facility terminal  50  stores, in the memory device  54 , the identification information ID and the determination result indicating that the user is a good driver. When the user, who has been determined to be a good driver, visits the facility where the sales-repair facility terminal  50  is installed to purchase a product or a service, the billing amount is discounted. 
     An operation and advantages of the present embodiment will now be described. 
     The vehicle group managing device  40  calculates the determination fuel-economy variable Ver for each of the vehicles VC 1 , VC 2 , . . . . When the determination fuel-economy variable Ver is greater than or equal to the reference value Veth, the user is determined to be a good driver. A good driver is provided with a reward for performing driving of a high energy use efficiency. For example, the vehicle group managing device  40  provides a good driver with a product and a service for discounted prices. This offers an incentive of encouragement of the user to drive with a high energy use efficiency. 
     The present embodiment further has the following operations and advantages. 
     (1) The CPU  42  stores the identification information ID and the determination result in the memory device  46 . The identification information ID is information that identifies the user of the vehicle VC 1 , not the vehicle VC 1 . Thus, even if the vehicle owned by the user identified by the predetermined identification information ID is changed from the vehicle VC 1  to another vehicle due to replacement purchase, the memory device  46  maintains the evaluation result obtained when the user was driving the vehicle VC 1 . Therefore, if the user was determined to be a good driver prior to the replacement purchase of a vehicle, the user retains the evaluation made prior to the replacement purchase, even after the replacement purchase. This allows the user to receive rewards such as discounted prices of products and services. 
     (2) An integrated value of the injection amount Q is not used as the injection integrated value InQ. Instead, the injection amount Q during driving on a general road is reduced using the coefficient K, and the integrated value of the reduced value is used as the injection integrated value InQ. This prevents the determination fuel-economy variable Ver from being greater than or equal to the reference value Veth solely due to relatively frequent driving on general roads. 
     &lt;Correspondence&gt; 
     The correspondence between the items in the above embodiments and the items the WHAT IS CLAIMED IS section is as follows. Below, the correspondence is shown for each claim number. 
     [1, 5] The first execution device corresponds to the CPU  22  and the ROM  24 . The second execution device corresponds to the CPUs  32 ,  42 ,  52 , the ROM  44 , and the memory devices  34 ,  54 . The consumption variable corresponds to the injection integrated value InQ. The traveled distance variable corresponds to the traveled distance RL. The efficiency variable corresponds to the fuel-economy variable Ve. The variable transmitting process corresponds to the process of S 26 . The variable receiving process corresponds to the process of S 30 . The determination process corresponds to the process of S 36 . The reward-providing process corresponds to the processes of S 56  to S 64 , and S 72  to S 76 . 
     [2] The notification process corresponds to the process of S 60 . 
     [3] The software providing process corresponds to the process of S 76 , and the software receiving process corresponds to the process of S 82 . 
     [4] The software providing process and the software receiving process respectively correspond to the process of S 76  and the process of S 82  in a case in which prerelease update information is generated in the process of S 58 . 
     [6] The identifying process corresponds to the process of S 14 . 
     [7] The in-vehicle device corresponds to the controller  20 . 
     [8, 9] The management execution device corresponds to the CPU  42  and the ROM  44 . The terminal execution device corresponds to the CPU  32  and the memory device  34 . The displaying process corresponds to the process of S 60 . The result transmitting process corresponds to the process of S 72 . The result receiving process corresponds to the process of S 54 . 
     [10] Claim  10  corresponds to the application program  34   a.    
     &lt;Other Embodiments&gt; 
     The above-described embodiment may be modified as follows. The above-described embodiment and the following modifications can be combined as long as the combined modifications remain technically consistent with each other. 
     Regarding Consumption Variable 
     In a case of an electric vehicle as described in the Regarding Vehicle section, the consumption of power of the battery simply needs to be used as the consumption variable. 
     In a case of a hybrid vehicle as described in the Regarding Vehicle section, reduction in the power of the battery may be converted into fuel consumption by multiplying the consumption of the power by a conversion coefficient that converts consumption of power to fuel consumption. In this case, the consumption variable includes a variable related to the fuel consumption. Conversely, reduction in fuel may be converted into the power consumption by multiplying the fuel consumption by a conversion coefficient that converts fuel consumption to power consumption. In this case, the consumption variable includes a variable related to the power consumption. 
     Regarding Efficiency Variable 
     In the above-described embodiment, the fuel-economy variable Ve is transmitted from the vehicle VC 1  to the vehicle group managing device  40 . However, the efficiency variable, which corresponds to the consumption variable and the traveled distance variable and is transmitted to the vehicle group managing device  40 , is not limited to the fuel-economy variable Ve. For example, the efficiency variable may be a mere combination of the consumption variable and the traveled distance variable. In that case, the vehicle group managing device  40  simply needs to execute processes similar to the processes of S 20 , S 24  to calculate the fuel-economy variable Ve. 
     Regarding Determination Process 
     In the above-described embodiment, whether the determination fuel-economy variable Ver is greater than or equal to the single reference value Veth is determined. However, two or more reference values may be used as values to be compared to the determination fuel-economy variable Ver. For example, users may be ranked into three or more good-driver levels on the basis of comparison between the determination fuel-economy variable Ver and each of reference values. 
     The energy use efficiency used in the determination process is not limited to the determination fuel-economy variable Ver. In a case in which an electric vehicle is used as described in the Regarding Vehicle section, an energy use efficiency, which is compared to a predetermined reference, simply needs to be quantified using the traveled distance per unit amount of charge of the battery. 
     Regarding Reward Providing Process 
     In a case in which users are ranked into three or more good-driver levels as in the Regarding Determination Process section, three or more price reduction ratios may be used in accordance with the good-driver level. The lowest value of the price reduction ratio is zero. Also, three or more time points to provide an updated version of software may be used in accordance with the good-driver level of the user. In a case in which users are ranked into three or more good-driver levels, it is not necessary to provide three or more price reduction ratios or three or more time points to provide the updated version of the software. That is, only users having the highest good-driver level may be provided with rewards such as a reduced billing amount or an early time point of receiving the software. Also, the users may be informed of their good-driver levels. Accordingly, a user who was determined to be at a low good-driver level receives an incentive to reach the highest good-driver level. 
     In the above-described embodiment, the reward-providing process does not necessarily include a process in which the prices of products or services sold or provided at the sales-repair facility terminal  50  are discounted. 
     In the above-described embodiment, the reward for a good driver includes prerelease update of paid software. In addition to this, the reward may include prerelease update of free software. In this case, the reward does not necessarily include prerelease update of paid software. 
     While including discounted prices of products and services, the reward for a good driver does not necessarily include prerelease update of paid software. Also, while including prerelease update of paid software, the reward for a good driver does not necessarily include discounted prices of products and services. 
     In a case in which software is installed in a vehicle as an option as described in the Regarding Software Providing Process section, the reward for a good driver may include discount of the amount for purchasing the software. 
     Regarding Notification Process 
     The above-described embodiment generates the display information on the basis of the price reduction ratio defined by the application program  34   a  when the process of S 72  transmits the determination result indicating that the user is a good driver. The present disclosure is not limited to this. For example, the process of S 72  may also transmit information of the price reduction ratio. That is, in place of transmitting, to the portable terminal  30 , information regarding a discount and the reasons for the discount through cooperation of the process of step S 72  and the process that transmits the application program  34   a  to the portable terminal  30 , the process of S 72  may perform the transmission alone. 
     In the above-described embodiment, the process of S 72  transmits information to the portable terminal  30 . However, the process of S 72  may transmit information to the vehicle VC 1 . In that case, the process of S 72  is regarded as the notification process, and the controller  20  performs the process of displaying the transmitted information on the in-vehicle display device. 
     Regarding Software Providing Process 
     The process of providing software that can be used in the vehicle is not limited to transmission of the software to the vehicle. For example, software as an option may be installed in the vehicle in advance, and may become usable only when the user completes the purchase. 
     Regarding Vehicle Control System 
     The vehicle efficiency evaluation system does not necessarily include all of the controller  20 , the portable terminal  30 , the vehicle group managing device  40 , and the sales-repair facility terminal  50 . For example, the vehicle efficiency evaluation system may include only the controller  20 , the portable terminal  30 , and the vehicle group managing device  40 . Also, the vehicle efficiency evaluation system may include only the controller  20  and the vehicle group managing device  40 . 
     Regarding Execution Device 
     The execution device is not limited to a device that includes the CPU  22  ( 42 ) and the ROM  24  ( 44 ) and executes software processing, or to a device that includes the CPU  32  ( 52 ) and the memory device  34  ( 54 ) and executes software processing. For example, at least part of the processes executed by the software in the above-described embodiment may be executed by hardware circuits dedicated to executing these processes (such as an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC)). That is, the execution device may be modified as long as it has any one of the following configurations (a) to (c). (a) A configuration including a processor that executes all of the above-described processes according to programs and a program storage device such as a ROM that stores the programs. (b) A configuration including a processor and a program storage device that execute part of the above-described processes according to the programs and a dedicated hardware circuit that executes the remaining processes. (c) A configuration including a dedicated hardware circuit that executes all of the above-described processes. Multiple software processing devices each including a processor and a program storage device and multiple dedicated hardware circuits may be provided. 
     Regarding Vehicle 
     The vehicle is not limited to a vehicle that includes only an internal combustion engine as a propelling force generator, but may be a hybrid vehicle that includes an internal combustion engine and a rotating electric machine. The vehicle may be a hybrid vehicle that includes a rotating electric machine as the propelling force generator, and includes an internal combustion engine. The vehicle may be a plug-in hybrid vehicle, of which the battery can charged with power from outside. Further, the vehicle may be an electric vehicle or a fuel cell vehicle that includes a rotating electric machine, but does not include an internal combustion engine. 
     Various changes in form and details may be made to the examples above without departing from the spirit and scope of the claims and their equivalents. The examples are for the sake of description only, and not for purposes of limitation. Descriptions of features in each example are to be considered as being applicable to similar features or aspects in other examples. Suitable results may be achieved if sequences are performed in a different order, and/or if components in a described system, architecture, device, or circuit are combined differently, and/or replaced or supplemented by other components or their equivalents. The scope of the disclosure is not defined by the detailed description, but by the claims and their equivalents. All variations within the scope of the claims and their equivalents are included in the disclosure.