Ecodrive Training Delivers Substantial Fuel Savings for Heavy Vehicle Drivers

Abstract

The concept of ecodriving has been in existence for at least 15 years, and its use has been widespread in Europe. In the UK more than 12,000 heavy vehicle drivers have received training from one scheme alone, with fuel savings of the order of 10% (SAFED, 2007). The primary thrust of ecodriving is a smoother driving style – ‘gliding’ or ‘flowing’ through traffic – with the principal aim of reducing fuel consumption and emissions. These savings are realised with behaviours that include shifting up through the gears as soon as possible and skipping gears when appropriate, maintaining a steady speed in the highest gear possible, and maintaining appropriate tyre pressures and servicing schedules. It is also critical to avoid heavy and/or sudden acceleration or braking and to look as far ahead down the traffic stream as possible in order to anticipate the actions of other drivers and predict likely changes and interruptions to the traffic flow. This more defensive or anticipatory driving style should also serve to reduce the likelihood of being involved in a crash. A small group of heavy vehicle drivers underwent an ecodrive training course. Their driving was assessed for various ecodrive variables as they completed an 18 mile circuit in normal traffic immediately after the course and again 6 and 12 weeks later. Compared to pre-course measures, these drivers reduced their fuel consumption by an average of 27%, the number of gear changes by 29%, and the number of brake applications by 41%, though not all differences were statistically significant due to the size of this pilot and large driver variability. Importantly, the improvements were not offset by increases in the time taken to complete the circuit. At the 6 week point a control group was also assessed, and they used more fuel and more gear changes, and applied their brakes more often than the control group. Safety variables were inconclusive. A larger, in-service trial is warranted.