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Sweden adds ecological element to driver test

Sweden adds ecological element to driver test

Nelson Ireson February 14th, 2008 Nelson Ireson By Nelson Ireson Author February 14th, 2008
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December 31st, 1969 While Sweden may not immediately pop to the top of the list when you think about ecologically friendly car culture - it has the least fuel-efficient cars in the EU, after all - it's taking some serious steps to improve its green standing. Leaving no stone unturned, the northern European nation has started requiring drivers exhibit green-driving skills in order to earn their licenses. Things as simple as turning on the motor after completing the pre-driving checklist can help. Thinking ahead seems to be the key element in Sweden's green driving program. The three keys: use the engine to slow rather than using the brakes - you may not need to brake at all; drive in the highest gear suitable for the conditions; and avoid aggressive acceleration and passing. It's possible that the biggest benefits of the program will be indirect - as other nations in Europe see the Swedish model, many are expressing interest in doing the same. Also, transport companies, which see the improvements in fuel economy in money-saving rather than carbon-saving terms are interested in the technique, reports Reuters. Although there's nothing new about using such techniques - so-called 'hypermilers' use all of these and more - the required use as part of new driver training certainly puts Sweden at the forefront of the issue. The new program started at the end of 2007, although it has been taught by some instructors for as many as five years.
Sweden adds ecological element to driver test

Sweden adds ecological element to driver test

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While Sweden may not immediately pop to the top of the list when you think about ecologically friendly car culture - it has the least fuel-efficient cars in the EU, after all - it's taking some serious steps to improve its green standing. Leaving no stone unturned, the northern European nation has started requiring drivers exhibit green-driving skills in order to earn their licenses.

Things as simple as turning on the motor after completing the pre-driving checklist can help. Thinking ahead seems to be the key element in Sweden's green driving program. The three keys: use the engine to slow rather than using the brakes - you may not need to brake at all; drive in the highest gear suitable for the conditions; and avoid aggressive acceleration and passing.

It's possible that the biggest benefits of the program will be indirect - as other nations in Europe see the Swedish model, many are expressing interest in doing the same. Also, transport companies, which see the improvements in fuel economy in money-saving rather than carbon-saving terms are interested in the technique, reports Reuters.

Although there's nothing new about using such techniques - so-called 'hypermilers' use all of these and more - the required use as part of new driver training certainly puts Sweden at the forefront of the issue. The new program started at the end of 2007, although it has been taught by some instructors for as many as five years.

Tags: Odds and ends

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Comments (5 total)

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  1. By Raptor #1, Posted: 2/14/2008

    Eco friendly user of XC90 V8. Sounds a bit... unrealistic. You don't buy V8 to drive like a grandma.:-)

  2. By chris #2, Posted: 2/14/2008

    question... how is down shifting going to use less gas than braking? hey, i downshift all the time, and for the most part i never use my brakes above 20 kmph,.. because i dont need to. but i fail to see how that saves gas. it definitely saves on brakes. I bet you i could put 3x as many KM on my brakes as theyre rated for,

  3. By Nelson #3, Posted: 2/14/2008

    Chris:

    The method doesn't necessarily involve downshifting - merely letting off the gas and allowing the engine to cause deceleration. It can save fuel in two ways. First, most modern cars cut fuel during deceleration while in gear - but they use fuel to idle while in neutral, so coasting in gear saves fuel. Second, merely decelerating a bit using the engine's drag instead of the brakes means you may slow less in situations that don't require lots of slowing, meaning you have to accelerate less to get back up to speed, which saves fuel.

    And downshifting as a means of saving brakes is a bit of an odd economy, since it places greater wear on your clutch - even assuming rev-matched downshifts - and clutches are much more expensive to replace than are brakes.

  4. By HECTOR #4, Posted: 2/14/2008

    This is like something from www.theonion.com. If we weren't living in these days of global warming scaremongering I'd say this is satire.

  5. By Gus #5, Posted: 2/14/2008

    This is such a bunch of tree hugging crap I can't even begin to laugh.
    If only governments and people in general focused on what really causes greenhouses gases, namely industrial pollution and cow farts.

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