Apparatus for coaching a driver for driving operation to improve fuel efficiency

An apparatus mounted on a vehicle, comprising a control unit configured to:

• display a color on a display unit disposed in an upper level of an instrument panel of the vehicle, the instrument panel being structured to be a two-tier panel of the upper level and a lower level;
• detect at least one predetermined driving operation by a driver of the vehicle;
• and
• if the predetermined driving operation is detected, determine a color to be displayed on the display unit based on an operating state of the vehicle according to the detected driving operation,
• wherein the color displayed on the display unit is changeable between a first color and a second color, the first color being established as a color indicating a fuel-efficient driving operation state, the second color being established as a color indicating a fuel-inefficient driving operation state,
• wherein the control unit determines the color to be displayed such that the color to be displayed gets closer to the first color as the detected driving operation becomes a more fuel-efficient driving operation state, and
• wherein the control unit changes the displayed color to the determined color,
• the control unit further configured to:
• based on the operating state of the vehicle according to the driving operation performed by the driver of the vehicle, determine a score indicating a state of fuel efficiency of the vehicle according to the driving operation;
• determine a lifetime score by adding the score calculated in a current driving cycle to the score calculated in a previous driving cycle, the driving cycle being a cycle from start to stop of an engine of the vehicle, and
• display the lifetime score after the stop of the engine of the vehicle.