ecodrive.org


   

 

 

ECOWILL has been endorsed by the European Commission's Sustainable Energy Europe Campaign as an Official Partner.

 

www.ecodrive.org: Home ECOWILL – The Project Objectives

Objectives


The ECOWILL project has five main objectives:

  • To deploy both the existing infrastructures of driving schools and advanced driver training for the massive rollout of short duration ecodriving snack training courses and online (e-learning) education for licensed drivers.
  • To standardise the contents of snack training courses and to certify trainers for providing snack training courses
  • To train licensed drivers of passenger cars and vans in ecodriving and to involve additional drivers through publicity and media attention
  • To engage governmental and driving school administrations to incorporate ecodriving in the driving school curriculum
  • To harmonise and optimise the contents and application of ecodriving in the driver test for learner drivers.

The project has envisaged five strategic (long term) objectives:

  • Setting of defined standards for ecodriving snack trainings, which can be easily adopted at pan-European level
  • Establishing a dense infrastructure for ecodriving training deployment which will keep the ecodriving alive after termination of the ECOWILL project
  • Rising awareness about ecodriving among drivers, all target groups
  • Incorporation and harmonisation of ecodriving in the driver test and consequently the incorporation of ecodriving in the driving school curriculums in all EU countries
  • Reductions in fuel consumption, GHG emissions, other air pollutants emissions such as NOX, PM, VOC etc. as a result of introducing ecodriving in the markets of the EU 27.

Golden Rules of Ecodriving

1. Anticipate Traffic Flow

Read the road as far ahead as possible and anticipate the flow of traffic. Act instead of react – increase your scope of action with an appropriate distance between vehicles to use momentum (an increased safety distance equivalent of about 3 seconds to the car in front optimises the options to balance speed fluctuations in traffic flow – enabling steady driving with constant speed).

 2. Maintain a steady speed at low RPM

Drive smoothly, using the highest possible gear at low RPM.

 3. Shift up early

Shift to higher gear at approximately 2.000 RPM.
Consider the traffic situation, safety needs and vehicle specifics.

 4. Check tyre pressures frequently at least once a month and before driving at high speed

Keep tyres properly inflated as low tyre pressure is a safety risk and wastes fuel. For correct tyre pressure (acc. To loading, highest pressure and speed driven), check with car’s manual. 

 5. Consider any extra energy required costs fuel and money

Use air conditioning and electrical equipment wisely and switch it off if not needed. Electrical energy is converted from extra fuel burnt in a combustion engine, so electrical equipment doesn’t work “for free” – it always costs extra energy and money.

Avoid dead weight and aerodynamic drag.

More detailed information can be found here