What is eco-driving?
Eco-driving is driving a vehicle in such a way as to reduce fuel consumption, greenhouse gas emissions and accident rates. By adopting moderate eco-driving techniques, which take into account existing engine technology, fuel savings and carbon dioxide reduction of 5%-10% can be achieved (1, 2).
The great opportunity of eco-driving is that it can provide immediate fuel use and emissions benefits for all vehicle types and ages, and is not dependent on buying a new vehicle. In addition to CO2, local air pollutants such as nitrogen oxides (NOx) and particulates (such as PM10) are also significantly reduced. Eco-driving can also reduce driving stress, and is proven to reduce the risk of accident to drivers and other road-users (2).
Listed below are Travelfootprint's Top 6 eco-driving techniques which form the basic eco-driving skills-set. Also listed is a selection of the latest gadgets that can help reduce your fuel use, costs emissions by monitoring fuel economy and fuel consumption. Further sources of information, training and support are also given.
Many of the best practices for eco-driving are subtle, but they can add up over a year. In addition to keeping a vehicle well maintained and regularly serviced, adopting eco-driving techniques can be the most immediate and effective way to reduce fuel use and carbon dioxide emissions, whatever vehicle you drive.
Under inflated tyres are not only unsafe, they also add to rolling resistance and therefore increase fuel consumption (mpg) – low tyre pressures increase rolling resistance and your fuel consumption by up to 5% (
Any extra weight in a vehicle will increase the vehicle’s inertia requiring the engine to work harder to move it, and that effort uses fuel. While it may be convenient to leave items in your vehicle, this extra weight will reduce your car’s fuel economy and therefore increase CO2 emissions. For an average car, for each 15 kg of weight of the vehicle, fuel economy reduces by around 1% (
Choosing the right gear is important to match a vehicle’s engine output to the vehicle speed and road conditions. The ‘wrong’ gear will reduce efficiency and waste energy. New eco-driving techniques demonstrate that fuel economy can be improved by ‘changing up’ to the next gear more quickly that previously recommended.
Generally speaking, more energy is required to accelerate a vehicle than to maintain a steady speed. In most cars, energy is also ‘wasted’ during breaking (fuel energy used for acceleration ends up as heat during braking). It therefore pays (economically and environmentally) to avoid unnecessary accelerations, decelerations, starts and stops (
At high speed, most fuel energy is required to overcome engine friction, rolling- and wind-resistance. As friction and drag factors increase with velocity, fuel economy is drastically reduced for higher speeds. Compared to the most fuel efficient speed of around 45-50mph (in highest gear), increasing your speed to 60mph typically reduces fuel economy by 6%; increasing from 60mph to 70mph, fuel economy falls by a further 9% (
Air-conditioning units are highly fuel thirsty and, when in use, drastically reduce a vehicle’s overall fuel economy. Although model dependent, air-con can increase fuel use, and hence CO2 emissions, by 20%-40% when engaged; other local pollutants are also increased by over 70% (
The ecoRoute software is a free optional download for Garmin GPS satnavs which enables drivers to select the most eco-friendly route and monitor fuel consumption. Aimed primarily at the private motorist, ecoRoute is designed to help save money and adopt better driving habits for more efficient trips. The software download is currently available for the 205 and 705 series nüvi products, which are priced from around £100 (255) and £250 (765T) respectively. For more info: 
The Econav is a fully functioning GPS satnav that also comes with fuel economy and CO2 monitoring options. Uniquely, it also recommends drivers when to change gear to maximise fuel consumption and reduce emissions. To use Econav, drivers first enter their vehicle details using drop-down menus provided; the units then monitor vehicle movements to assess optimum driving conditions. The Econav comes in two screen sizes, the UK350 and UK 430, and currently retail at around £160 and £200 respectively. Software versions for Nokia phones are also likely later this year. For more info: 
The mobile-based Carbon Diem system uses GPS to measure the speed and pattern of an individual's movement, allowing it to detect the mode of transport being used at any given time, whether it be walking, driving or flying. The inventors claim that this information, coupled with data on the distance travelled via each form of transportation, puts their product in the unique position of being the world's first automated carbon calculator. The software has been tested the software in Nokia and Blackberry phones, and is due to commercially available in late 2009. For more info: 
VMIgreenlight is a web-based GPS vehicle tracking and fleet management system. Designed to track vehicle movements using live mapping software, the systems reports can identify trends, analyse costs and highlight any exceptions against Key Performance Indicators to reduce fleet running costs and increase company productivity. With the option of adding a data capture unit onto the vehicle (via CanBus), fuel use and CO2 emissions can be monitored, and the results integrated into reporting. Costs start at around £75/vehicle for installation, and then around £20/vehicle/month. For more info: 
Eagle-i have launched the VCG7 in-vehicle unit, which is a universal GPS-based telemetry and communications hub that supports real-time vehicle tracking and two-way driver communication. Used in conjunction with the Monitor3 web-based interface, the unit can track all fleet vehicle movements including activity, routes, and speeds. With the option of importing fuel card data, fuel use and CO2 emissions can be monitored, and the results integrated into reporting. Costs start at around £75/vehicle for installation, and then around £25/vehicle/month. For more info: 
Lysanda's Eco-Log gives a fleet operator the means to monitor actual fuel use and level and composition of a vehicle's emissions (including CO2). As a software module, Eco-Log resides within a host tracker or Telematics unit – the only hardware required is a standard connection from the vehicle's OBD (On Board Diagnostics) port to the tracker unit. For fleets which don't operate a Telematics system, the Eco-Log is available as a stand-alone black box fitted under the dashboard and connected directly to the OBD port. The fleet operator can download the fuel use and emissions data locally at the end of each period, to a laptop, a PDA or a USB stick. For more info: 
Freight Best Practice funded by the Department for Transport (DfT) and managed by Faber Maunsell Ltd offers FREE information to promote operational efficiency within freight operations.
SAFED is a driver development course, consisting of assessment and driver training, which is aimed at improving the safe and fuel efficient driving skills of LCV and Aggregate Lorry drivers.
The Freight Operator Recognition Scheme is a FREE scheme that aims to transform London freight delivery and is open to any company operating vans or lorries within the Capital.
