What’s Your Kiwi Score? Device Trains You How to Save Gas
The PLX Kiwi dashboard computer plugs into your car and provides real-time info on how your driving habits affect gas usage — and how to correct them for maximum fuel efficiency.
There are lots of gas saver devices out there that claim to help you increase your car’s fuel economy. Most of them are of questionable effectiveness — to put it mildly — relying on such things as magnets, mini-tornadoes, and fuel tank pills. I’ve covered some of them in a previous post about potential fuel saving scams.
The sheer number of such questionable gas saving devices makes it difficult for the average person to distinguish the effectiveness of any single one of them. It also instills a general feeling of distrust that any of them could actually work.
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So when something like the PLX Kiwi comes along, my first instinct is to count it guilty as a scam before its been proven innocent. But, as it turns out, that instinct has a high potential of being wrong in this case.
The Kiwi is a small dashboard computer that plugs into your car’s on board computer through the diagnostic port (called an OBDII/CAN port) which is typically located under the steering wheel. The OBDII port can be found on almost all cars manufactured after 1996.
The Kiwi displays all the real-time information available from your car’s computer, such as miles per gallon, speed and trip information. It can also tell you why that pesky check engine light has come on and turn it off for you if it turns out not to be a problem.
Using your car computer’s information, the Kiwi calculates four basic parameters associated with your driving style:
- Smoothness — How steady a speed are you driving?
- Drag — How much wind resistance your car is facing?
- Acceleration — Are you trying to get to warp 9, or are you Driving Miss Daisy?
- Deceleration — Do you have one foot on the brake and the other on the accelerator?
The Kiwi then combines your scores in these four categories and gives you a “Kiwi Score,” which tells you how well you are doing on maximizing your fuel economy.
The company claims that after training with the Kiwi, drivers can expect an average fuel savings of 20% — with increasing benefit if you do most of your driving on the highway.
Savings also depend on the size of your car (larger vehicles experience a greater benefit) and range from $500-$1000 per year given current gas prices in the US.
According to the company, the PLX Kiwi will be available later this month for US $299.
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Image credits: PLX Kiwi
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July 10th, 2008 at 10:18 pm
I think its a little bit pricey considering the gas prices already killing us…
July 11th, 2008 at 8:19 am
This sounds like a great device, and maybe most practical with the rising fuel prices. But I wonder how drivers will feel when using such a gadget. Maybe at first it could make driving fun b/c it would almost be a game to try and save a couple extra cents and smooth out the driving technique, but how about after a few months? It might make drivers take a deep breath before pushing the gas….maybe a bunch of driving in neutral. Maybe that is already occurring, but with the numbers in your face, ohhhhhh dear!
July 11th, 2008 at 11:31 am
After using it for a few months for the avg driver it will either a wind up in the dash, or more preferably in the junk drawer at home. Can’t have any unused weight in the car. A better idea is to let a family member or friend inherit the device on a loan and let them improve their driving skills.
July 11th, 2008 at 1:23 pm
Last night I had a dream that somebody made a dock connector for the iPhone that could plug into the car’s diagnostic port and also developed the Kiwi software for the iPhone….
Could it have anything to do with the fact that I’m getting an iPhone today?
July 11th, 2008 at 7:58 pm
And here are some driving and maintenance tips that you can try out on your new Kiwi: keep tires properly inflated to improve gas mileage by 3% and save up to $75 per year, cut miles traveled by 5% to save $115 per year. You check out more gas tips at http://www.drivesmarterchallenge.org. You can also enter your specific vehicle data and figure out how much money you can save my taking six fuel-efficiency steps and get some money saving coupons – Kat, Alliance to Save Energy
July 14th, 2008 at 10:27 am
Very cute, and I could see where it might encourage younger drivers to drive slower, and safer. But the price … ouch.
July 16th, 2008 at 7:01 pm
Just a bit pricey. Maybe they can combine
it with GPS capability.
July 16th, 2008 at 11:09 pm
Depends on how much lag there is while using it. Also, will the average driver actually change their habits because of a theoretical score? Wouldn’t the actual MPG be good enough?
July 17th, 2008 at 2:49 pm
In the last few days I’ve read about similar devices that supposedly cost about $150. I wonder why the Kiwi is twice that.
July 20th, 2008 at 12:23 am
I would pay $80-$100 for this device.
In fact, I think I remember seeing something just like this for around $150 in Popular Mechanics?
July 20th, 2008 at 12:37 am
Yup, found a couple — http://www.scangauge.com/buy/index.shtml
http://www.amazon.com/ScanGauge-Compact-Multifunction-Computer-Customizable/dp/B000AAMY86/ref=tag_tdp_sv_edpp_t
July 22nd, 2008 at 11:42 pm
Now let’s see $299.00 for the device or $299.00 in gas?
Did I miss something or are they trying to make the next pet rock?
July 23rd, 2008 at 10:35 pm
For me this would cost 4 tanks of gas. Or 12 pizzas. 12 pizzas or go 20% further on a tank of gas? Sorry I am going with the pizzas.
July 25th, 2008 at 11:05 am
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July 31st, 2008 at 2:16 pm
Well for about $160.00 you can get a Scan Gauge II
which gives you more read outs like all your Volts, rpms, speed, temp, maf,timing, and much more and all this has as well and more.
For 1/2 the cost.
Rich
August 10th, 2008 at 8:01 am
Szukasz gier planszowych? http://gryplanszowe.wordpress.com/ Duzy wybor gier planszowychm, karcianych i towarzyskich, po kokurencyjnych cenach
August 23rd, 2008 at 8:20 pm
I would pay $19.95 for this device.
September 14th, 2008 at 8:06 pm
has this device been tested by a reliable source such as Consumers Report or by some of the major manufacturers, such as Ford or General Motors. It would make a great add-on, given the price of gasoline today.
November 6th, 2008 at 3:41 am
Thank you. What you need))
July 21st, 2009 at 5:28 pm
I have used both and personally prefer the Bully Dog Watchdog, it does similiar functions, however much easier to use and better feedback. Check it out at Bullydog.com.