Fiat eco:Drive, Apple Awards Green Champion

With all the fuss created around green technologies employed in the automotive industry, each and any recognition given to a manufacturer for its efforts can do nothing less than help it promote its own technologies.

The Italians from Fiat took an important step in creating awareness for its eco:drive technology by being awarded the "Green Champion" title at the 2009 International Green Apple Awards.

The event, presented by Chartered Institute of Environmental Health CEO Michael Cooke and  actress Alexandra Bastedo recognized Fiat's eco:Drive as one the best environmental practices out there.

“I am very happy to accept this award on behalf of Fiat,” Luis Cilimingras, the man responsible for the system said in a release.

“eco:Drive has won many honours since its launch a year ago but, until now, they were mostly for innovation or marketing. The Green Apple accolade is much more fulfilling, since it gives recognition of the work we have done for the environment.”

The system itself is a tool for drivers, and is used as a means for them to see how the driving habits affect the surrounding environment. The system, introduced at last year's Paris Auto Show, is a free-of-charge tool which records information about the vehicle and how it is driven.

The data is analyzed and then relayed back to the driver in the form of an analysis of fuel consumption and CO2 emission. eco:Drive goes even as far as advising the driver on how to improve efficiency.