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M-1A-16 - Eco-driving

Eco-driving refers to a set of driving practices aimed at improving fuel efficiency, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and minimising wear and tear on vehicles. These practices include maintaining a steady speed, accelerating and braking smoothly, using higher gears, and anticipating traffic flow to avoid unnecessary stops. Eco-driving also encourages regular vehicle maintenance, such as proper tyre inflation and engine tuning, to enhance performance. By adopting these techniques, drivers can achieve significant reductions in fuel consumption and emissions. Eco-driving is applicable to various modes of transport, including cars, trucks, and buses, and represents an accessible strategy for individuals and organisations to contribute to sustainability goals. The effectiveness of eco-driving relies on driver education and behavioural change, as well as supportive policies and incentives.

Eco-driving for vehicles is listed in table 5.1 of (IPCC AR6 WG3 2022)1 and outlined in section 8.3.5 of (IPCC AR5 WG3 2014)2.

Mitigation Objective

The primary goal is for an efficiency shift to increase energy efficiency of all vehicle types by means of eco-driving.

Mitigation Potential

Potential

The AR5 report estimates the potential of eco-driving to 5-10% for LDVs and 5-20% for HDVs.

Eco-Driving: A 5–10 % improvement in on-road fuel economy can be achieved for LDVs through efforts to promote ‘eco-driving’ (An et al., 2011; IEA, 2012d). Fuel efficiency improvements from ecodriving for HDVs are in the 5–20 % range (AEA, 2011).

- (IPCC AR5 WG3 2014)2

Eco-driving (including avoiding rapid starts and stops, and early shifting for manual transmission cars) could improve average fuel use by 10% or more, and eco-driving training appears to be a very cost-effective way of improving fuel economy. Many fleet operators understand the potential and organise training programmes to encourage or require their drivers to apply driving styles that save fuel.

- (IEA 2012)3

Eco-driving training can improve safety, reduce driver stress, and increase fuel efficiency by 5-20%, making it attractive to both drivers and employers.

- (AEA 2011)4

Modelling

This mitigation method has been modelled with the following Transition Elements:

Primary Reference

The primary reference for this mitigation measure is (IPCC AR6 WG3 2022)1.

Secondary References

TBD.

  1. IPCC AR6 WG3. 2022. Climate Change 2022: Mitigation of Climate Change. Contribution of Working Group III to the Sixth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Edited by Priyadarshi R. Shukla, Jim Skea, Raphael Slade, Alaa Al Khourdajie, Renée van Diemen, David McCollum, Minal Pathak, et al. https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009157926. ↩↩

  2. IPCC AR5 WG3. 2014. Climate Change 2014: Mitigation of Climate Change: Working Group III Contribution to the Fifth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Edited by Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and Ottmar Edenhofer. Cambridge University Press. ↩↩

  3. IEA. 2012. Fuel Economy of Road Vehicles. Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. https://www.oecd-ilibrary.org/energy/fuel-economy-of-road-vehicles\9789264185029-en. ↩

  4. AEA. 2011. “Reduction and Testing of Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions from Heavy Duty Vehicles — Lot 1: Strategy.” ↩

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