Carmakers want EU to promote Eco-driving

We all know driving smoothly, accelerating at a constant pace, shifting to a higher gear, and coasting whenever possible helps reduce fuel consumption, but at the end of the day most of us rarely do it. Carmakers in Europe are now calling on the European Union to promote this more environmentally-friendly style of driving to help reduce greenhouse gases and thus help reduce the burden placed on themselves.

One option that’s quickly gaining favor among carmakers is to see a greater role played by the fuel industry, policy makers and consumers. “Reducing CO2 emissions from cars should be a shared responsibility,” Ford of Europe’s eco-driving manager Wolfgang Hennig told reporters from Wards Auto. “Technology, alone, cannot solve this question of how to reduce emissions from cars.”

The EU’s current mandate is to cut CO2 emissions by new passenger cars from 160 g/km to 130g/km in 2012 through improving engine technology and an additional 10 g/km reduction will be required from improvements from other technologies such as tires and alternative fuels. Now carmakers hope eco-driving can also be added to that list.

One study has found that eco-driving can reduce fuel consumption by up to 25% and several countries have started eco-driving pilot programs. The only problem is how will governments enforce the new rules and get drivers to follow the recommended driving style. One solution is to install software that records the use of the accelerator, gearshift, brake and clutch, and shows drivers just how much fuel is being saved and how to reduce consumption further. “People would see the advantages of eco-driving for themselves in terms of fuel economy and saving money, important at a time when global fuel prices are high,” Hennig explained.