General Description

The way a vehicle is driven is related to the emissions. A significant emission reduction can be accomplished by influencing the driving behavior and vehicle usage. During the FLEAT project various fleets were monitored before and after an eco-driving course. Various pilot actions provided direct and indirect feedback to the drivers. Others didn't implement a feedback system.


Tips & Tricks

The major eco-driving tips given during the course to the drivers were:
  • Shift to a higher gear fast (based on rpm of the engine)
  • Drive with a constant speed
  • Use engine for slowing down
  • Anticipate and keep your distance
  • Avoid unnecessary weight


A key factor for the succes of the course is to provide continuous feedback to the drivers on their driving performance. The form of feedback is highly dependent on the company culture.

Some more tips:

-          Highly qualified trainers who support the idea are a crucial factor;

-          The managers should participate in the training courses to increase the employees´ motivation;

-          For the best possible effect the training course should take one full day. Ecodriving cannot be learned properly in one hour;

-          Eco-driving trainings should not be combined with driving safety trainings because the drivers would not focus on the rather dry eco-driving lessons but on the more attractive skidding trials and other practical trainings;

-          After the training courses the organisation should continue their ecodriving activities, e.g. newsletters, ecodriving-tips or ecodriving-competitions;

-          It is very important to monitor the effects in order to demonstrate that the money was well spent;

-          Incentives for employees (allowances or non-cash benefits) are important so that they receive at least a symbolic share in the cost savings;

-          Newly purchased vehicles should be equipped with fuel economy devices.

download pdf document



General Results

In all but 1 FLEAT pilot actions, we saw significant reductions in fuel consumption after implementing ecodriving measures. The largest effect in terms of relative reduction was seen with trucks (-9,4%), followed by busses (-7,2%) and then light duty vehicles (-6,4%). The payback period is also shortest for trucks, and longest for light duty vehicles. The truck fleets we had as pilot actions in the FLEAT project, were also the fleets with the most intensive follow-up and feedback scheme. The one fleet were the estimated effect was not achieved, was the only fleet where no feedback scheme was implemented. The one fleet where no ecodriving course as such was given, but only a very detailed monitoring procedure was implemented by means of an on board logging device, achieved even better results than average. This leads to the conclusion that a good follow-up and feedback scheme is an absolute necessity for achieving good results when implementing ecodriving measures.

Pilot Actions Overview

AUSTRIAN FEDERAL RAILWAYS (ÖBB Holding AG)
BRISTOL MYERS SQUIBB, GREECE
ILPAP, Athens Electrical Buses Organisation
KONE
LEASEPLAN
MUNICIPALITY OF CRAIOVA
PPC- PUBLIC POWER CORPORATION
RAIL CARGO AUSTRIA
REISEDIENST HUSMANN
S.C. ELPRECO s.a.
S.C. HELCO SRL
TNT SKYPAK
VAN DIEVEL
Language (default English)
The sole responsibility for the content of this webpage lies with the authors. It does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the European Communities. The European Commission is not responsible for any use that may be made of the information contained therein.