Eco-driving
Handout 14
Eco-driving tips – How to
drive energy efficient?
Part 2b / Exercise 14
→→ The ‘Golden’ and ‘Silver Rules’ of Eco-driving
There are simple things drivers can do to have a cleaner and safer journey. By following some of
the hints and tips – drivers can save on fuel costs, drive safer and cut down on pollution.
→→ ‘Golden Rules’ of Eco-driving
These rules are the basic and most important driving style tips that have the greatest impact on
fuel consumption while driving:
1. Keep your distance and anticipate traffic flow in order to conserve momentum and avoid
braking and stopping
• Anticipate situations and other road users as far ahead as possible.
• Maintain a greater distance between vehicles in order to avoid unnecessary acceleration
and braking, and make maximum use of the vehicle’s momentum.
Maintaining a minimum vehicle to vehicle distance equivalent to about 3 seconds, and will (in
most cases) give the driver time to ‘act instead of react’.
Key action: Step off the accelerator if traffic flow is slowing down to keep a safe distance. By
adopting this simple action, variations in traffic speed can usually be equalised and gently
managed simply by lifting off the accelerator, and unnecessary braking and accelerating can
be avoided – thus, enabling steady driving with constant speed.
• Make maximum use of a vehicle’s momentum.
Making use of a vehicle’s momentum means to use built-up kinetic energy of the car most efficiently. The overall goal is letting the car roll and driving at a steady speed whenever possible
instead of braking and subsequently accelerate.
Additional information: When using a vehicle’s momentum, three different techniques are applicable. It is important to consider the specific advice of the individual car’s manual as well as
strictly following national legal requirements.
LEVEL
B2
TOGETHER_Eco-driving_5_Handout 14.pdf
Eco-driving
Handout 14
Technique 1: Releasing the accelerator early and remaining in gear when slowing down or
driving down hill will (in most situations and for most vehicles) activate the fuel cut-off switch
which will reduce fuel flow to virtually zero. However, fuel cut-off switches do not operate
at low revolutions and some older vehicles do not even have them, so the following two tips
should also be followed as long as they are compatible with national traffic regulations.
Technique 2: Allowing the vehicle to roll in neutral with the engine idling will make better use
of a vehicle’s momentum in situations where the fuel cut-off switch would not operate. Surprisingly, long distances can often be covered in this way (but remember when driving downhill it is important to remain in the correct gear to avoid unintentional acceleration).
Technique 3: Letting the vehicle roll in gear, but with the clutch engaged is a useful variation of
the above tip that might also be deployed in situations in which the fuel cut-off switch is not
likely to operate and when the driver believes he will soon continue in the same gear as before.
2. Maintain a steady speed at low revolutions per minute (rpm)
Drive smoothly, using the highest possible gear at low rpm. Smooth driving at a steady
speed uses less fuel and is safer than driving at the same average speed, but with more acceleration and braking. Use cruise control when appropriate for most extra urban driving and even in
some city driving.
Remember driving at high speeds or with high rpm significantly increases fuel consumption. High
speeds drastically increase fuel consumption. For example, data from the Automobile Association (AA) in the UK shows that a car at 136 km/h (85 mph) typically uses approximately 25 % more
fuel than at 112 km/h (70 mph) for a given distance.1 The Austrian driving school association estimates that driving at 130 km/h uses approximately two litres more fuel than driving at 100 km/h.
3. Shift up early and drive with the highest gear you can use without lugging the engine
Shift to the higher gear by approximately 2,000 rpm. Driving with high or even medium
engine rpm always consumes more fuel then driving at low rpm at whatever speed. Therefore,
early shifting is highly recommended. However, vehicle specifics and current traffic situations
have to be taken in account.
Rough guidance for shifting and steady speed driving (on the flat, not uphill):
»» 1st gear: Driving-off only (one vehicle length)
»» 2nd gear: 20 km/h
»» 3rd gear: 30 km/h
»» 4th gear: 40 km/h
»» 5th gear: 50 km/h
»» 6th gear: 60+ km/h
1 Eco-driving advice. Get more out of the fuel you buy. Source: AA – The Automobile Association Ltd. (2011)
LEVEL
B2
TOGETHER_Eco-driving_5_Handout 14.pdf
Eco-driving
Handout 14
Full throttle acceleration should be avoided when it is safe and practical to do so. If possible,
when driving uphill select a gear that requires the accelerator to be depressed no more than
about three-quarters of its maximum position. When accelerating hard, skipping gears, e. g. from
3rd to 5th or from 4th to 6th gear, can in some situations save fuel. For automatics, avoid activating
the kick-down switch which changes down a gear, unless the faster acceleration provided by the
lower gear is required for safety reasons.
4. Check the tyre pressure regularly on all tyres
Under-inflated tyres create more rolling resistance and then use more fuel. Check your
tyre pressure frequently, at least once a month and before driving at high speed. Low tyre pressure is a safety risk and wastes fuel. For correct tyre pressure levels (according to loading, highest
pressure and speed driven), check with car’s manual.
Checking your tyre pressure regularly will not only save fuel but will also increase the life
((
of your tyres.
5. Avoid dead weight and aerodynamic drag
Electrical equipment and in particular, air conditioning adds significantly to fuel consumption, so use it sparingly.
Avoid carrying dead weight and adding unnecessarily to aerodynamic drag, e. g. by open((
ing windows at high speed or carrying roof boxes when not in use.
LEVEL
B2
TOGETHER_Eco-driving_5_Handout 14.pdf
Eco-driving
Handout 14
→→ Further Eco-driving tips – ‘Silver Rules’ of Eco-driving
1. Fuel-saving starts with choosing a low-emission car
Choose a fuel-efficient model with reduced CO2-emissions. Diesel vehicles should always
be equipped with particulate filters. A fuel consumption display helps you to save fuel. Cruise
control and an automatic gearbox can decrease fuel consumption.
2. Avoid short car trips as cold engines need much more fuel per km
Cold engines need much more fuel per km than warmed-up engines and cause equivalently more CO2. On short trips the engine does not reach its optimum operating temperature, increasing wear and reducing durability.
3. Don’t start the engine until there is actually an opportunity to start driving
Drive-off immediately after starting the engine, do not warm up the engine. Idling wastes
fuel and the engine warms up more quickly when you are moving.
4. Turn off the engine at stops
Turn off the engine if stationary for a significant time. For most modern engines the ‘break
even’ period – at which the fuel saved by turning off exceeds the fuel used to re-start the engine
– is around 20 seconds.
5. 6. 7. Use low friction oils and low energy tyres
Make use of the EU-labelling system.
Close windows when driving at higher speeds
Open windows increase dynamic drag and consume extra fuel.
Check your car regularly and have it serviced
Make sure your car is regularly serviced (according to the manufacturer’s schedule) to
maintain engine efficiency.
8. Consider alternative means of transport (Cycling, Walking, Public transport, Car sharing,
Car pooling, Park & Ride)
Around 25 % of all car trips are less than 2 kilometres and 50 % of car trips are less than 5 kilometres in length.1 Choosing to cycle or walk does not only have positive effects on the environment
but also on your health and budget. The use of public transport also helps you to save money and
to avoid stress and exhaust gases. Consider setting up a car pool with friends/colleagues or try car
sharing in order to save fuel and costs.
1 Cycling: the way ahead for towns and cities. Source: European Commission (1999)
LEVEL
B2
TOGETHER_Eco-driving_5_Handout 14.pdf