The Essex-based automotive software developer, Lysanda has launched ¡®Eco-Log¡¯, a system which calculates the emissions of a moving vehicle, reporting the level and composition of its pollutants. Eco-Log takes information from a vehicle¡¯s On-Board Diagnostic (OBD) system to predict its emissions characteristics, rather than directly measure the gases in the exhaust pipe. This data is then transmitted back to base over the mobile phone network. A prototype Eco-Log ¡®black box¡¯ is currently fitted to a Ford Focus 1.6 TDCi.

Alexander Willard, CEO and founder of Lysanda, says: ¡°The Eco-Log is aimed initially at fleet managers, to enable them to monitor how their vehicles are being driven and the exact fuel economy each one achieves in its daily operations. It could help them improve emissions efficiency by identifying particularly heavy footed drivers and particularly inefficient vehicles. We have estimated that this could generate savings of at least 5% per year.¡±

He continues: ¡°In the future, the Eco-Log may also assist fleet operators when the London Low Emission Zone is introduced in 2008. This technology will allow fleet operators to prove the true emissions of their vehicles, and therefore demonstrate compliance with the restrictions imposed for the zone.¡±

Lysanda was founded in 2004 by Mr. Willard, a former powertrain specialist and programme manager with Ford and Jaguar. The company¡¯s chief development partner is The Pi Group, the Cambridge-based automotive electronics specialists whose other projects have included telemetry for Formula 1 teams.

The company received a portion of its initial funding from EEDA, the East of England Development Agency. Trade & Industry Secretary Alastair Darling recently visited EEDA in Cambridge and took a demonstration drive to see the Eco-Log in operation.