Garmin offering "eco" cable to go with systems

Garmin has revealed screen shots of its new Eco-Route add-on for the Nuvi 1xxx GPS systems with Bluetooth.  The Eco-Route is a cable that plugs into your car's diagnostic communications port and feeds data to your GPS.

Eco-Route reads air, fuel, throttle position and combustion mixture information and then uses that to display performance information for the driver.  Fuel economy data includes not just the gallons used, but the cost of fuel used and the total carbon footprint for the trip.  The add-on includes a driving challenge that scores drivers on braking, speed and acceleration, aiming to make users more efficient drivers.

Drivers can also choose the most fuel efficient route instead of just the usual shortest or fastest options.

All of this sounds great, but there is a big drawback -- the price.  The cable will cost $149 for new and old users alike.  If it still sounds appealing, Eco-Route should be available by early next year.

via Autoblog Green