Ecodriving

Article By:

Shaheen, Susan Transportation Sustainability Research Center, University of California, Berkeley, California.

Martin, Elliot Transportation Sustainability Research Center, University of California, Berkeley, California.

Chan, Nelson Transportation Sustainability Research Center, University of California, Berkeley, California.

Last reviewed:2014

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1036/1097-8542.YB140371

Ecodriving is a collection of driving behaviors and maintenance practices that can improve the fuel efficiency of driving. As a practice, ecodriving has gained attention among automakers, policy makers, and researchers because it costs little or nothing to implement and it can be applied to almost any passenger or freight vehicle immediately. Common ecodriving practices, such as accelerating slowly, braking gradually, and keeping tires properly inflated have been known for decades. Ecodriving offers numerous benefits, including fuel cost savings, fuel consumption and greenhouse-gas (GHG) reductions, greater safety and comfort, and less noise pollution. However, only recently, with concerns about increases in gasoline prices, foreign oil dependence, and climate change have these practices been viewed in a collective fashion to improve fuel economy. Studies in Europe, Japan, and the United States over the past 15 years report fuel-economy savings averaging 10–15%, depending on the ecodriving information conveyed and the study length. A core challenge of ecodriving is conveying the necessary information to the driver such that the practices are implemented appropriately and consistently.

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