The following summaries of the pilots provide a short overview

The aim of the Spanish pilot was to support the Traffic Authority (DGT, who are in charge of issuing driving licences) in making compulsory the theoretical and practical teaching of ECO-DRIVING in the curriculum in order to grant driving licences. IDAE signed a collaboration agreement with the DGT in order to perform an array of activities targeted at making the society as a whole aware of economic driving as a means to protect our environment and to save energy and human lives. As part of this agreement a SAVE project was carried out in collaboration with the Driving Schools´ Association. The outcome of this project was theoretical teaching materials that proved their value at some driving schools. According to a survey, both teachers and students ranked their interest in the relationship between economical driving, energy and the environment very highly.

Built on this experience a new programme was proposed to cover not only theoretical teaching but also actual driving training

• Development of the teaching methodology based on the experience of other project partners (MOTIVA, NOVEM)
• Training of at least 40 driving instructors in ECO-DRIVING.
• Training of about 400 new drivers in 20 driving schools
• Incorporation of ECO-DRIVING in the teaching materials of driving schools
• Dissemination of the results in different media

AGEEN proposed to carry out a pilot action in a driving school, where notions of ECO-DRIVING will be introduced to the apprentices, as well as the environmental consequences of using a car. The three driving schools, involved in this pilot action, belong to the Portuguese Automobile Club (ACP). The main aim was to develop the basis for the future introduction of economical driving in driving schools.

It was the first time that, in Portugal, an action aiming to reduce the high energy consumption of the transport sector was directed towards driving schools by trying to influence the behaviour of new drivers. This action consisedt of the preparation of adequate teaching material, which were presented to the students attending driving lessons. The instructorsalso received the right information in which they will be made aware of the implications of ECO-DRIVING, namely of its benefits both in terms of energy savings, which are reflected in monetary savings, and in terms of road safety.

To evaluate the acceptance of the students, a small questionnaire to complete was given them, in which they were asked to give their opinion about the effectiveness of the action. One of the objectives of this pilot action was to include a couple of questions about ECO-DRIVING in the drivers' examination. This was a first step towards the introduction of ECO-DRIVING in the curricula of driving classes.

The core of the action was to implement ECO-DRIVING according to the rules of modern financial management. This was done in collaboration with a company with an important car fleet. The aim was to develop, implement and evaluate a Business Plan on ECO-DRIVING. The need for this action arose from the fact that only a few companies were willing to invest in ECO-DRIVING. Economic scientific proof on the Return on Investment of ECO-DRIVING, in the form of a pilot case study, could help to change this attitude.

• Market Study on different possibilities involving the implementation of ECO-DRIVING.
• Development of a Business Plan
• ECO-DRIVING training for the drivers of the company
• Project follow-up including evaluation and dissemination of the results.

There are few offers in Austria on the market regarding Eco-training for buses. The aims of most training offers involve safety issues. On the other hand there were pilots (amongst them EC projects) showing that ECO-DRIVING training will have significant impact on fuel consumption for all kinds of buses. In the Austrian demonstration, the basis shall be broadened to show that Eco-training has additional beneficial impacts for the operators and their clients (passengers and transport authorities). Eco-training shall become an essential component of bus driver training in Austria.

In the first phase two points were clarified. Firstly, the offers on the market regarding ECO-DRIVING courses were researched. Secondly, the situation for operators in public transport was analysed to allow a sound setting for the dissemination of the ECO-DRIVING courses.

In the second phase the dissemination addressed 1,200 operators in Austria via mail and email-newsletter showing the benefits of ECO-DRIVING and offering information and help for participation in such courses.

In the third phase the interested operators was helped to find appropriate training materials or courses or to set up a measuring campaign to evaluate the impact of the ECO-DRIVING training courses.

In the final phase the evaluation of the results from the campaigns wascollected. This included an quantification of savings and also a description of hurdles and recommendations for sustainable savings through ECO-DRIVING training.

Deliverables:

• Folder
• Website
• Abstract & Summary

Milestones:

• July 2001 publishing Website
• Sep. 2001 mailing Folder
• Mar. 2002 Evaluation scheme
• Feb. 2003 Abstract & Summary Pilot

The Centre for Renewable Energy Sources of Greece (CRES) conducted a pilot action in collaboration with the Organization of Urban Transportation of Athens (OASA), and the Thermo-Bus Company (ETHEL). The action was important due to the increased environmental problems of the Athens region, mainly arising from the circulation of transportation means. The aim of this pilot program was to change the urban bus drivers’ behaviour towards a more economical and ecological driving style, through adequate training courses of small bus drivers group.

In order to record and evaluate data such as fuel consumption, distance traveled and average speed, a monitoring system has been installed on two selected buses for two specific routes, in order to record the data prior to the initiation of the urban bus drivers’ training courses. The data gathered was then used for comparison reasons, so that after the completion of the training courses, we were able to calculate any shift in bus drivers’ driving behavior.

The expected results for the aforementioned actions were:

- The decrease in fuel consumption and emissions.
- The improvement of road safety.
- The decrease in maintenance cost.
- The improvement of transport comfort for drivers and passengers.
- The improvement of transport company profile through promoting the ECO-DRIVING benefits.

The training courses have been designed based on a theoretical and practical level, in order to achieve the best knowledge improvement of the drivers, on economical driving techniques.

The project was split into the following phases:

Phase 1: Design of pilot action.
CRES has prepared the whole pilot action in collaboration with ETHEL. In the framework of the pilot action, two meetings have been taken place at ETHEL’s offices with the General Director of Support and the Director of Technical Services, dated on February 13th and April 16th of 2002. During the above-mentioned time period, ETHEL had to re-schedule its operational plan and to appoint six bus drivers for two specific urban buses, having two specific routes.

Phase 2: Data collection of pre-training phase.
This phase consisted of data gathering related to fuel consumption, distance travelled, average speed, etc. prior to the training course initiation. In order the data to be as much accurate as possible, a specific equipment called EDM1404, provided by VDO Kienzle, was installed on the two selected buses. The monitoring period of the recorded data was set to be one month and a half, starting from 14.05.2002. The recorded data was used as a base line, for comparison purposes.

Phase 3: Development of the training material.
The development of the training material involved a package of instructions concerning new driving style targeted to urban buses with automatic gear boxes. The above-mentioned material, written in english language, was developed by VtenL, a Dutch body for professional training on ECO-DRIVING. Additionaly, VtenL has also agreed to carry out the training courses on both theoretical and practical level. The training material has been delivered to CRES and has been already translated into the Greek language.

Phase 4: Training courses execution.

Phase 5: Data collection of post training phase.

Phase 6: Data evaluation.
Evaluation of any fluctuations of the recorded data regarding the pre and post training phase in order to identify the trainees (urban bus drivers) consolidation level.

Conclusions:

• 10,4% average reduction in fuel consumption for driving in the same route (15 km)
• Acceptance and understanding of Eco-Driving from the bus drivers
• The bus drivers were enthusiastic for driving faster, more relaxed and more fuel-efficient at the same time applying Eco-Driving in their driving style

The Dutch pilot consisted of several subpilots. Aim of the project was to examine the most efficient organisational and logistical possibilities for recruiting experienced drivers for Eco-Driving courses. Until now 3 subpilots have been started:

1. Connecting Eco-Driving to the Ecoteam programme (environmental awareness)
2. Investigating the possibilities of connecting Eco-Driving to the Dutch Occupational Health and Safety Policy
3. Investigating the relationship of taking Eco-Drive courses and road safety

Several other subpilots will be started in the near future. The owners of a drivers licence participating in the subpilots will finally count up to at least 10,000.

Also part of the pilot is a marketstudy. In this study consumers interests in elements such as price level, duration, content and location of Eco-Driving courses have been examined. The results will be used for setting up new subpilots.

GLOBAL ACTION PLAN AND THE ECO-TEAM PROGRAMME

The Eco Team Programme gave people insight into a sustainable way of life and, as a part of this programme, network partner Global Action Plan (GAP) conducted a project about TNDF. The project was formulated as a pilot project. Target groups of the Eco Team Programme were companies and private individuals who joined GAP. The participants in GAP's behavioural changing programmes received information about all aspects of TNDF in combination with training in the driving simulator during the course "Transport". The participants registered their fuel consumption during several months, the duration of the project was one year.

The project has been set up as a campaign and included the following elements: workshops with amongst others the use of a driving simulator, regional days, additional information about the Eco Team Programme and a user friendly (interactive) measuring system. After the workshop, participants will be able to register and convey their consumption during a number of months by means of the measuring system. Each participant receives personal feedback about saving and advice to improve their behaviour. These participants are also being monitored to see if and to what extent the newly acquired behaviour lasts.

Special campaign sites include:

www.global-action-plan.nl

FIRST RESULTS

• 4 workshops with companies;
• 7 'theme days' by Eco Team Centres;
• Start in 2 districts in regard to a Multi Actor District Approach;
• Preparing activities with several organisations and 3 very large companies.

Already hundreds of car drivers are participating and the number is growing quickly.

TNDF and Dutch Occupational Health and Safety Policy

The project about TNDF and the Occupational Health and Safety Policy concerned phase three from a longer-term project. During the first phase, a draft instruction for the integration of TNDF in the occupational health and safety policy was developed with help from the members of the advice group. During the second phase, the draft instruction was subject to a pilot test at the GTI company. During the third phase, the instruction was adjusted on the basis of the results of the test. An important part of phase three was the 'diffusion' or 'upscaling' of the instruction.

Aim of the pilot was to form, in co-operation with vital parties from the field of the occupational health and safety policy, such a structure and logistics that the instruction will be used on a large scale by occupational health and safety services.

Recently a survey has been carried out among representatives from hundreds of organisations from the world of occupational health and safety as well as the world of transport. This included TNDF network partners as well. The aim was to discover whether these organisations saw possibilities for a combination of TNDF and occupational health and safety, whether they have reserved the role of pioneer for themselves and which organisations could possibly be seen as role models. A draft plan for the widespread implementation of the TNDF and occupational health and safety instruction is ready.

In the pilot test at the GTI company some 25 employees were trained in ECO-DRIVING. Their opinions included in general:

• It is very informative;
• The costs are too high;
• Too little attention for safety;
• Link it to driver skills training.

TNDF AND ROAD SAFETY

With regards to road safety, Novem was carrying out a project in co-operation with the insurance company Polis Direct. The aim of the project was to prove that TNDF also improves road safety. Meanwhile some 300 policyholders of Polis Direct have taken TNDF training. The training was offered free of charge, it took place in their neighbourhood and within a limited time period. The fuel consumption of these policyholders and of a similar control group were registered over a longer period of time.

The duration of the project was one year in which, by means of damage registration, it could be examined whether the TNDF driving style indeed leads to damage reduction. If this was the case there was a possibility that insurance companies could develop a TNDF policy which enables TNDF motorists to pay less premium. The investigation has run until April 2002.

The training was offered free of charge and on location

• 5,000 policyholders were invited;
• 650 policyholders applied for the training;
• Only 301 policyholders were finally trained. Others did not show up;
• 2/3 of the trained car drivers would not have paid more money than € 40,- for the training.

The results clearly show the difficulty of interesting people for Eco-Driving courses, even when it is offered free of charge and when it takes place in their neighbourhood within a limited time period.

Market research on Eco-Driving courses

So-called positioning concepts were developed for the market research into TNDF's driving style training courses. These concepts formed the basis of the so-called 'conjunct measurement'. For this, an interactive computer application was used and presented to a large scale NIPO panel.

Subsequently, the possible strategic positionings for TNDF has been developed. The basic needs or end values of the consumer which can be taken advantage of can be examined. A text specifically adapted for driving has been developed for this.

With the developed strategic positionings and its textual content, the appeal of the different positionings to consumers have been investigated. During the conjunct measurement' the ways in which the most appealing positionings can be filled in specifically (price level, duration, location and so on) have been examined. The conjunct measurement' has been carried out during the period from 8 until 16 May. The final report is ready.

Most important results

• Current ECO-DRIVE training does not appeal to car drivers with regard to content and name (Het Nieuwe Rijden in the Netherlands).

It is recommended to combine ECO-DRIVING with

• Anti-skid courses;
• Knowledge of traffic rules and safety courses.

And also to emphasize freedom and independence.

The focus has to lie on the following target groups

• Target group 1: active and young car drivers, private and business;
• Target group 2: 'solid', 'sound' private car drivers.

Recommended content of the training for target group 1

• Training of half a day;
• On a track;
• Not in their own cars;
• A maximum of 2 participants;
• Anti-skid courses, knowledge of traffic rules, safety, driver skills and ECO-DRIVING.

Recommended content of the training for target group 2

• Training of 1-2 hours;
• On public road, close to home;
• In their own cars;
• On an individual bases;
• Knowledge of traffic rules, safety, comfortable and stress free driving, ECO-DRIVING.

The Benchmarking Energy Efficiency in Transport (BEET) project, managed by NEA Transport research and training (The Netherlands), AFT-IFTIM (France) and CCV (The Netherlands), intended to increase efficient energy usage in road transport. On the one hand driving behaviour was trained and on the other hand a benchmarking system, which monitors fuel usage and emissions, was created. It enabled transport operators to compare mutual performance of fuel consumption and emission. By integrating the results of driver behaviour training’s in the benchmark tool, transport operators were able to get an impression of the saving potentials that can be obtained when drivers are trained to drive according economic principles.

The formulated objectives for this project were:

• to enhance transport fleets management by influencing driving behaviour by special training to drivers;
• to enhance awareness of potential savings in fuel usage and emissions by developing and implementing a benchmark tool.

NEA was the leading partner and was responsible for the project management. Target groups for dissemination activities were transport companies, national and international policy makers and branch organisations in the transport market. Branch organisations would have an important active role in triggering awareness and implementation of both benchmarking tool and training drivers because they are in frequent contact with transport companies and are in constant dialogue with national and supra national policy makers. Dissemination activities are also supported by a web-site, containing a interactive benchmark tool for energy performance.