What is eco-driving?

2024/01/08

Ecodriving emerges as an indispensable strategy for fleets of carriers, whether they involve light or heavy vehicles, internal combustion or 100% electric. Beyond a mere approach to fuel cost reduction, this practice offers substantial benefits in terms of vehicle maintenance and road safety. For fleets encompassing a variety of vehicles, running on gasoline, diesel, or propelled electrically, adopting ecodriving becomes a comprehensive approach promoting more efficient and environmentally-responsible management, both economically and ecologically. This article delves deep into how ecodriving can be universally applied, bringing significant advantages to all fleets, regardless of the diversity in their vehicle fleets.

In the contemporary landscape, despite the numerous technologies aimed at minimizing the fuel consumption of heavy-duty vehicles, it is crucial to recognize that the driver remains the foremost factor influencing a vehicle's fuel efficiency.

Research conducted since 1999 consistently underscores the impact of driver training in curbing average fuel consumption, demonstrating potential reductions ranging from 7% to 15% per vehicle, contingent upon the specific operational context. Eco-driving proves to be a valuable practice, not only yielding substantial fuel savings for gasoline-powered vehicles but also delivering noteworthy advantages for electric vehicles by extending their range.

Reducing energy consumption and environmental benefits

The most substantial cost for carriers is fuel consumption, constituting a significant portion, up to 40%, of the operational expenses for both freight and passenger transportation companies.

As indicated by a 2016 study conducted by the Quebec Office of Energy Efficiency and Innovation, the influence of training and closely monitoring driver behaviors can translate into an annual savings per vehicle ranging from 4,000 to 10,000 liters of diesel. The extent of these savings is contingent upon the size of the vehicle's operational territory, distinguishing between local and long-distance transport.

Behaviours to adopt and continuous training

Four techniques (in order of importance) have been identified by the experts of the Transportez Vert program in order to practice eco-driving:

Eliminate, reduce and recover accelerations;
Reduce vehicle speed;
Use the highest possible speed ratio;
Regularly monitor and adjust tire pressure.

All these initiatives are grounded in an awareness of driving behaviors influenced by the fundamental forces affecting a vehicle's energy consumption—namely, rolling force, aerodynamic force, and inertia.

While driver training holds significant potential for reducing fuel consumption, the true hurdle for vehicle fleets lies in sustaining this decline in fuel usage over an extended period. The advantages gained from such training initiatives prove fleeting unless companies implement an effective feedback program capable of preserving the long-term benefits of the training efforts.

Reducing the risk of an accident

Advocating for a calmer driving approach, eco-driving enables enhanced traffic anticipation, better management of the vehicle's top speed, and a more adaptable driving style. This heightened vigilance contributes to the safety of all road users, leading to a decrease in road accidents. The 2016 study conducted by the Quebec Office of Energy Efficiency and Innovation further illustrated that the adoption of eco-driving by drivers results in:

An increase in constant speed driving time (14% to 21%);
An increase in the frequency of anticipation (up 200%);
A decrease in the frequency of brake applications (19% to 25%);
A reduction in aggressive decelerations (41% to 60%).

Benefits of an eco-driving self-training program

A fully automated continuous training program that needs little to no management
An easy and simple driver training program crafted by a team of experts
Important cost reduction due to energy efficiency
A significant reduction of your fleet’s carbon footprint
Longer vehicle life span and reduced vehicle maintenance costs
Increased driver retention through recognition and increased safety
Improvement of your fleet’s productivity
A new, incrementally beneficial and easy-to-use fleet management tool

The Transportez Vert Program

The Quebec government's Transportez Vert program is designed to help businesses implement measures that reduce the fuel consumption of their vehicles. This program subsidizes up to $1,000 per standardized eco-driving training session and up to $20,000 for support for energy management in a heavy-duty vehicle fleet.

To learn more about our team of expert trainers approved by Transition Energy Québec as part of their eco-driving training program, contact us today.

We can assist you in comprehending the elements influencing the energy consumption of your heavy-duty vehicles, equipping you with the necessary knowledge to adopt energy-efficient practices, and facilitating the implementation of safer and more energy-conserving driving habits.