Ford Motor Company has been developing an eco-driving instruction program in Germany since the mid-1990s. This program was cosponsored by the German Road Safety Council and yielded a roster of instructors who are familiar with the tenets of eco-driving. These instructors were involved in recent testing by Ford Motor Company and the Pro Formance Group about the fuel-economy benefits of eco-driving.
Ford’s eco-driving techniques force drivers to think about their existing behaviors and create new habits that reduce fuel consumption. The company’s eco-driving instructors teach drivers to reduce highway speeds, ease off brake pedals and keep tires properly inflated in order to increase fuel efficiency. These techniques were taught to 47 volunteers in Phoenix, Arizona in order to validate Ford’s claims about this driving style.
The verified results showed that the average fuel savings for a certified eco-driving volunteer was 24 percent. Ford, Pro Formance Group and Sports Car Club of America found that the fuel-efficiency range in eco-driving fluctuated between 6 percent and 50 percent. The wide range of fuel-efficiency readings in Ford vehicles stemmed from the customized instructions offered by eco-driving experts. Ford’s eco-driving experts note that instruction is critical to addressing bad driving behavior and designing lessons that are appropriate for each driver.
Sports Car Club of America and Pro Formance Group lend credibility to Ford’s eco-driving instructional program. The Sports Car Club of America has a positive reputation among professional drivers and instructors, which makes its test verification even more legitimate for critics. Pro Formance Group already runs Ford’s teen driving program called Driving Skills for Life and may be involved in a future certification program for eco-driving.
The test results from Ford’s Phoenix excursion should not be surprising to responsible drivers who are already employing these practices. Ford may be trying to create a new certification program for eco-driving but parents and driving instructors have parsed many of these tips out for years. Every book, website and blog about eco-friendly driving cites tire inflation, RPM monitoring and lighter braking as ways to save gas. Ford is not reinventing the wheel with eco-driving tests but it is good to see that they are encouraging drivers to refresh their memories about early driving lessons.
Well, at least they are putting in writing stuff that I’ve been doing also and it works, it is not a myth. I proved that the under inflated tires consume much more fuel with my own bicycle. So I guess I’m already saving a lot.