Eco-Driving with the Cuipo Fiat!

This month Cuipo released its rainforest inspired Fiat 500 Cuipo Car. With fuel efficiency just under 40 mpg, this car improves Cuipo co-founder Tom Murray’s commute to our new office in Newport Beach, CA.

To reduce his carbon footprint, Tom began commuting by Amtrak from Solana Beach to the Cuipo office in Newport Beach, but he could only take the train Tuesday through Thursday. Monday and Friday were reserved for driving to Newport Beach so he would have a means of transportation between the station and the office on the days he commuted. By introducing the Cuipo car into his commute, he has eliminated the 140-mile drive and become a greener commuter.

In addition to its commute benefits, the car is helping Cuipo spread the word about fighting deforestation! Cuipo’s Creative Director, Alex Funderburk, created the Cuipo car’s skin. Alex says he was inspired by our fun, furry friends of Panama. The car features some of Cuipo’s cast of rainforest characters: Sly the Squirrel Monkey, Steve the Sloth, Arnie the Anteater, Fonsworth the Tree Frog, and Tiko the Toucan. Stay tuned to the Cuipo Store and Blog for more appearances of these quirky creatures!

Tiko the Toucan and Sly the Squirrel Monkey take a ride on the Cuipo Fiat.

“I love the new Cuipo Fiat and so do my kids. They can’t get enough of the Cuipo characters,” says Tom. “The best part about the Fiat is EcoDrive. I had never looked at the way I drive as an opportunity to make a change.”

The technology EcoDrive takes a different look at reducing emissions. Fiat has worked to implement the EcoDrive initiative that encourages behavioral changes in driving to reduce emissions.

In eco-transportation debates most people focus on the low-emission vehicle, while EcoDrive focuses on the driver’s impact on emissions. The data shows a more efficient driver can have a huge impact on reducing emissions.

In a study conducted by Fiat using EcoDrive as its data collection tool, Fiat found that EcoDrive had a significant impact on the habits of its European Union drivers. The average EcoDriver consumed 6% less fuel and saved 480 Euros in approximately 3 months. The top 10% of EcoDrivers consumed 16% less fuel and saved 1,260 Euros. So how exactly does this EcoDrive technology work?

According to the Fiat website, EcoDrive is an easy-to-use computer application that will help you improve how efficiently you drive. It analyzes your driving style and helps you to use less fuel, reducing your CO2 emissions and saving you money – up to 15% if used effectively.

How does is it work? Download the application from the Fiat website onto your computer (it’s free). Plug any USB stick into the Blue and Me port on your Fiat, and information on the way you drive will be saved to it automatically. Then plug the stick back into your computer and the information uploads into the EcoDrive Application (it’s completely anonymous so no one else sees your details).

EcoDrive analyzes your driving technique and grades it, giving you a score out of 100 called your EcoIndex.

EcoIndex shows how efficiently you’ve driven based on your acceleration, deceleration, gear changes, and speed. Clever step-by-step tutorials show you how to improve your driving technique using information from your own journeys, thus improving your score.

There are lots of other ways to use EcoDrive, too. You can monitor the total number of miles you’ve driven and the money you’ve saved. You can even track your progress over time and set challenges to improve your EcoIndex score.

EcoDrive is an industry first and truly changes the way we look at emissions associated with driving. The best part about eco-driving is you don’t have to have a low emission vehicle to benefit – anyone can become an EcoDriver and save some gas and money! Check out Fiat’s EcoDrive Tips to green your commute!

Keep your eye out for the Cuipo car put-putting around Orange County. If you spot it, send a picture to gogreen@cuipo.org. The best photos will win a sweet prize!

Steve the Sloth taking it easy in the back seat!