Vehicle countdown timer and user interface

An ignition-bus timer for managing activation of an ignition bus in a vehicle, comprising:

• an interface operative to:
• receive input from the vehicle operator to initiate a countdown to vehicle shutdown;
• and
• display a countdown value that reflects the time remaining until vehicle shutdown;
• an electronic control unit coupled to the interface that is configured to:
• maintain an ignition bus in an active state in response to receiving operator input to initiate a countdown to vehicle shutdown;
• maintain a countdown value in memory that reflects the time remaining before vehicle shutdown;
• and
• cause the ignition bus to transition into an inactive state in response to expiration of the countdown value.

A system for maintaining an ignition-bus timer in a vehicle, the system comprising:

• an ignition bus for supplying signals to the vehicle's engine;
• an interface for receiving operator input to initiate a countdown of time remaining before the ignition-bus will be transitioned into an inactive state;
• a display for displaying the countdown information;
• and
• an electronic control unit for:
• causing the display to present the time remaining until the countdown expires;
• maintaining the ignition bus in an active state before expiration;
• and
• in response to expiration of the countdown, transitioning the ignition bus into an inactive state.