Eco-driving helps cut oil consumption
By IANSTuesday, February 8, 2011
WASHINGTON - You can save fuel by avoiding stop-and-go traffic, closing your window, not using air-conditioning or coasting toward halts — basically what is coming up as eco-driving.
Research at the University of California Riverside’s College of Engineering Centre for Environmental Research and Technology (CE-CERT) can give you the answers.
The research field is called eco-driving, which refers to providing drivers with advice and feedback to minimise fuel consumption when driving, according to a university statement.
“This is a really big deal,” said Matthew Barth, the director of CE-CERT and professor of electrical engineering. “Automobile manufacturers are doing anything possible to make cars more fuel efficient”.
In a study last year, a group of drivers in the Riverside area used the eco-driving device, known as Eco-Way, for their daily commute for two weeks.
Researchers found it improved fuel economy by six percent on city streets and one percent on highways.
Eco-driving studies in Europe, most of them conducted in pre-planned driving courses, have found fuel economy improvements between five and 15 percent.
A survey provided to the Riverside area drivers found that most are willing to adopt eco-driving practices in the near future.
On a one to 10 scale, with 10 being the most likely to adopt, the average score from drivers was 7.4.
