Live Fuel Prices with Garmin Smartphone Link App

Garmin Smartphone Link is a free Android app that utilizes the smartphone’s data connection to provide real-time information to nüvi navigation devices. One of the premium functions available through this app is the ability to search for the lowest fuel prices at gas stations nearby. For $9.99 per year, users can find the best prices for any grade of fuel in their area by tapping the screen and selecting a station.

Garmin ecoRoute

Garmin ecoRoute calculates the most fuel-efficient routes by factoring in fuel consumption data, the number of stops, speed limits, and more. ecoRoute also gives you real-time feedback on the efficiency of your driving.

Select Fuel-Efficient Routes

With ecoRoute, users will have a “less fuel” option as a routing preference. When selected, nüvi will determine if more fuel-efficient routes exist based on road speed data and vehicle acceleration data for a given route. You’ll also get information on the time, distance and total fuel cost of your planned route. And it’s all on one easy-to-read screen so you’ll know before you go.

The Fuel Report feature automatically calculates details about your travel and fuel usage. You’ll see time and distance traveled as well as the cost of fuel used and average fuel economy. Perfect for keeping tabs on your travels and expenses, it’s virtually everything you need to track your ongoing fuel consumption.

Driving Challenge

See just how efficient you drive with ecoRoute’s Driving Challenge. This fun-yet-effective challenge makes a game out of saving gas with your nüvi by keeping a running score that reflects your current driving habits. You’ll get real-time feedback based on your performance and you’ll quickly see the results of your actions. Like to accelerate quickly and jam on the brakes at the last moment? Then prepare yourself for a lower score and higher fuel bill. The better you drive, the higher your score.

The ecoRoute feature is included with selected nüvi models and can also be purchased as an upgrade for other models here. Additionally, we also offer an even more advanced option to analyze your driving behavior and fuel economy with ecoRoutes HD: The ecoRoute HD module transforms your Bluetooth® compatible nüvi or Android™ smartphone into a real-time diagnostic computer. By connecting to your vehicle’s diagnostic system, ecoRoute HD monitors vehicle performance and provides detailed system data, including engine monitoring, sensor and gauge data, fuel efficiency, engine diagnostics and more.

With features such as ecoRoute, lifetime traffic and cityXplorer, the ultra-thin and portable nϋvi 1390T is popular for epic road trips and scenic vacations. But The Family Handyman magazine points out that it excels with everyday chores as well. In their April issue, The Family Handyman shines the spotlight on nϋvi as an example of "Brainier navigation."

"Even if you're not map impaired, you need this cool GPS from Garmin," the editors write. "It taps into traffic reports and reroutes you around traffic jams. That'll save you time. Want to pick up food on the way? This baby will pull up all the restaurants along your route and sort them by cuisine. Get the Bluetooth model and you can use it as a speakerphone."

While we all dream of big adventures and exotic excursions, thanks to the folks at Family Handyman for reminding us that little helpers like a pocket-sized nϋvi can keep our daily routine from becoming a nightmare.

For any driver who has ever been curious about what's really going on under the hood, Garmin's new ecoRoute hd provides many of the answers. By accessing onboard diagnostics and performance data, drivers can use a compatible Garmin nüvi to wirelessly monitor real-time vehicle diagnostics while accurately calculating ecoRoute data and driver challenge scores (speed, acceleration, braking, etc.) in an effort to conserve fuel and money through fuel-efficient navigation. 

“When it comes to fuel conservation and vehicle upkeep, the real-time information provided by ecoRoute hd is the key to being a smarter driver,” said Dan Bartel, Garmin’s vice president of worldwide sales. “Garmin is known around the world for getting you to your destination efficiently, and now you can know how your car is performing every step along the way.”

By simply plugging the ecoRoute hd module into the vehicle’s standardized onboard diagnostics port (OBD II), safely mounting the transmitter clear of vehicle controls and pedals, and completing the easy one-time pairing with nüvi, drivers can start receiving the vital data from their vehicle and run diagnostic checks through nüvi’s intuitive interface before a trip to the auto shop is necessary. Drivers also get more accurate ecoRoute data, making fuel conservation easier than ever, and they can monitor their engine data (including temperature, RPM, emissions) and diagnostics through the Trip Computer screen and customizable Gauges screen. Drivers can then view Diagnostic Trouble Codes – with on-screen descriptions of some error codes – and reset the “check engine” light. ecoRoute hd will be compatible with many current and future nüvi models, including 1260, 1370, 1390, 1490 and 1690.

Real-time data monitored by ecoRoute HD, which has an expected availability date of March 2010 for a suggested retail price of $149.99, includes vital diagnostics such as:
• Intake air temperature information
• Coolant temperature data
• Throttle position and engine load
• Intake manifold pressure
• Battery and charging system information
• Mass airflow rate
• Timing advance
• Emissions

Introduced by Garmin in 2009, ecoRoute is a free software update that helps drivers conserve money and fuel, easing growing pressures on personal budgets and the environment. In addition to “faster time” and “shorter distance” for route preference, ecoRoute lets nüvi users choose “less fuel” as a routing option as the best way to help save gas and money. Through ecoRoute’s Fuel Report, Mileage Report and fuel-saving tips, drivers can focus on fuel conservation even when they’re not behind the wheel. Fuel Report tracks fuel usage over time, and Mileage Report monitors mileage and fuel usage on a per-trip basis. Drivers can customize their nüvi to fit their vehicle by accessing the “vehicle profile” under ecoRoute in the tools menu. There, you can enter your car’s fuel economy and the current price of gas to help nüvi better calculate your savings. To find out if your nüvi is compatible with ecoRoute through a free, downloadable software update, go to www.garmin.com/ecoroute.

From New York to LA - Michael and Maddy, co-founder's of the Renew America Roadtrip, just completed America's first cross-country drive-a-thon for charity in an all-electric production sportscar. With the help of a Garmin nüvi, the two drove a Tesla Roadster from coast to coast to raise awareness for renewable, sustainable and eco-friendly technologies, and raise money for green charities. The RAR team made the journey equipped with a nüvi 1390T- an ultra-thin navigator with premium features like lane assist with junction view, Bluetooth connectivity and free lifetime traffic updates. If you haven't made the switch to an all-electric car but still want to save gas and money by adopting smarter driving habits, the 1390T also comes standard with ecoRoute, which suggests fuel-efficient navigation and let's users choose a "less fuel" route preference as the best way to save gas and money. Through ecoRoute's Fuel Report and Mileage Report, drivers can also focus on their fuel conservation, and also find fuel-saving tips along the way. 

Congratulations to the RAR team on their successful trip! To learn more about the Renew America Roadtrip and ways to support green initiatives, click here.