Japanese carmakers go for green

Japanese automakers have begun placing features in their cars that support eco-driving. One feature is the Eco Pedal system, which Nissan Motor Co. is ready to install in some of its higher-end models by the end of the year. The system features a gas pedal that boosts fuel efficiency by discouraging drivers from pushing down too much. Toyota Motor Corp. has equipped its domestic models with the Eco Drive Indicator, a dashboard lamp that lights up when the car is being driven in a fuel-efficient way. Honda Motor Co., meanwhile, has added a feature to its new Insight hybrid that keeps tabs on how much fuel each driver burns, then ranks every driver. Features such as these in cars, as well as dropping demand for kerosene, has made the Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry predict that the country’s demand for gasoline and other oil products will fall to a 44-year low of 168,205,000 kiloliters in fiscal 2013, 16.4% lower than the figure estimated for fiscal 2008. (March 31/ April 13, 2009)