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The next high-tech trend in green cars is now clear: cars that teach their drivers how to drive them.

First, Nissan gave us the gas pedal that pushes back when the driver accelerates too hard. Then Ford gave us the dashboard display that grows leaves as the driver drives at peak efficiency.

Now, Honda gives us a color-changing speedometer to teach drivers to use gas most effectively.

Honda’s Ecological Drive Assist System, according to Autoblog Green, uses a color-changing speedometer to teach the driver. “If the color behind the number is green, you’re driving efficiently. Get a little sloppy, and a bit of blue appears. When you’re driving in the least economical fashion, the whole screen turns blue.”

We like it. It seems more mature than Ford’s vine-that-grows-leaves…which has a certain kindergarten feel to it.

A Honda press release states, “The Multi-Information Display also allows drivers to view fuel economy figures for the past three trips, as well as instantaneous and average fuel economy statistics. The scoring function encourages drivers to take an interest in developing fuel-efficient driving habits over the long term.”

Engadget adds, “The EDAS should appear in the automaker’s Insight hybrid as early as Spring 2009.” But there is no engineering reason to restrict the system to hybrid cars. It might even prove more effective in a gas-guzzler, so why not install it in the Ridgeline pickup or Pilot SUV?

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