01126751

Component

Training drivers to reduce fuel consumption, an approach known as EcoDriving, has attracted attention in Europe where positive results have been reported. EcoDriving involves monitoring engine revs to make timely gear changes, not operating the vehicle at high revs and anticipating traffic conditions in order to ‘flow’ the vehicle. This paper reports results from a field trail conducted to explore the potential of an EcoDrive approach under Australian conditions. The field trail involved B-double vehicles, each weighing 68 tonnes (74 ton), which are used to transport bulk powered cement. The results of the training were positive with substantial reductions in fuel consumption, brake applications and gear changes. Follow up measurements taken 6 and 12 weeks after the training suggest that the EcoDriver skills have been retained by the drivers. While the results need to be interpreted with caution because of the scale and nature of the trial, the strength of the reductions never-the-less highlights that EcoDriver type initiatives have a potentially valuable role to play in reducing fuel consumption and emissions.

01120148

09-1131

English

14p

2009

Transportation Research Board 88th Annual Meeting

Digital/other

Figures; Photos; References (14) ; Tables (2)

Braking; Driver training; Ecodriving; Exhaust gases; Fuel consumption; Gear shifting; Heavy vehicles; Pollutants; Sustainable transportation; Traffic flow

Australia

Education and Training; Environment; Highways; I15: Environment

Transportation Research Board Annual Meeting 2009 Paper #09-1131

TRIS, TRB

Jan 30 2009 5:21PM