DYNAMIC ECODRIVING IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA: A STUDY OF SURVEY AND VEHICLE OPERATIONS DATA FROM AN ECODRIVING FEEDBACK DEVICE

摘要

Ecodriving describes the behavioral modifications that drivers can make to improve their fueleconomy. Dynamic ecodriving comprises the use of real-time feedback information that informsthe driver of vehicle performance. This study evaluates the performance of an aftermarket realtimefeedback device that reported instantaneous fuel economy to drivers while driving. Studyparticipants (N = 18) drove with the device for two months. During the first month, the deviceprovided no feedback, but collected data on driving activity. During the second month, thedevice continued to collect data, but also provided the participant with feedback on real-time fueleconomy. Participants could then use the information to self-teach how to improve their fueleconomy. The participants took two surveys to evaluate their response to the device, and vehicleactivity data was analyzed to ascertain the degree to which driving behavior changed. A majority(56%) reported in surveys that the device changed how they drove during the second month.Vehicle activity data showed that different participants modified different behaviors in responseto the feedback. Nine participants made some reduction to their acceleration from a stop, andeight made some reduction in the magnitude of their deceleration to a stop. Eleven participantsreduced their average highway speeds. Across the broader sample, average highway speedsdeclined from 65.9 to 65.4 mph. Overall changes observed in fuel efficiency were small acrossthe sample, which when excluding outliers, constituted a 1.4% improvement in fuel economy.