In an apparent effort to teach better driving habits, Ford is offering $50,000 in prize money to software developers who can make a smartphone app that helps consumers get better gas mileage.
The app would work by gathering driving information from the vehicle’s computer like speed, acceleration, and braking. It would then coach the user on what bad habits to break and what good habits to keep – all in hopes of saving money at the gas pump.
The move falls in line with Ford’s mission of fuel economy and smart technology marketed to the younger, more tech-savvy and eco-aware generations.
And with car companies seeing lawsuits resulting in consumers not reaching the EPA’s estimated fuel economy numbers, this seems a perfect way for Ford to keep themselves out of the courtroom.
Ford will start taking applications for the Personal Fuel-Efficiency App Challenge on April 23. The contest will run for roughly three months.
