Improvements in and relating to vehicle management devices

摘要

A vehicle monitoring device (VMD) in accordance with the invention comprises a microprocessor programmed to simulate a vehicle's powertrain, that is arranged to receive signals from a vehicle's engine management system in order to produce a real-time simulated model of the vehicle's powertrain operation whence the vehicle's actual instantaneous fuel consumption and/or emissions can be accurately predicted during operation of the vehicle and compared with predetermined or calculated optimum performance characteristics for the powertrain under the pertaining conditions in order to display the instantaneous operating conditions in relation to the optimum under any driving condition. The VMD is advantageously arranged to receive the signals from the on-board diagnostics (OBD or OBD-II or equivalent) port. The VMD is preferably programmed so that the said performance coefficient is used to calculate the instantaneous and/or cumulative quantity or percentage of fuel wasted as a result of non-optimum operation of the vehicle. The invention extends to the display.