Have you ever given 1-on-1 ecodriving instruction? (Here's how I did it.)

[euromodder]

Local "ecodriving" schools teach engine braking ...

'Nuff said, I presume.

[niky]

The problem is liability.

When I gave my first eco seminar, it was sponsored by Shell and Ford. (they paid for the food, the cars, the gas and the venue). Shell had their own fuel saving guidelines and I had mine, and I had to mish-mash the two into a coherent whole.

I was under strict orders not to promote stuff like EOC (not that I practice it, or easily could... as the cars used were dual-clutch automatics) or neutral coasting, as the safety nannies at those companies didn't want their names attached to a seminar preaching such heretical stuff.

Hell... we had a small row over tire pressures, too.

Of course, we know what best practice is. Those schools likely know what best practice is. But due to legal liability, they can't teach it to their students.

[MetroMPG]

Liability is definitely an issue. Common sense and discretion dictates that you don't teach someone something they may not be able to handle either.

I have a bit more lattitude since I'm not doing this for compensation, and don't have to answer to a sponsor. (That said, I was still pretty conservative in what I taught this driver - what I thought was appropriate for her skill/comfort level.)

Now I'm more curious about your background, niky. (I looked to see if you had posted an introduction when you joined - I didn't see any in your first dozen or so posts.)

[niky]

I write for an online magazine. Started back in 05 or 06 though I've been in the club scene since the late 90's and know a bit about retuning and modifying. Currently working for one of Top Gear's online outlets after stints as Road Test Editor at two others (Philippine market only) and sporadic contributions to thetruthaboutcars.com, and I'm on the technical committee for the local Car of the Year awards. Oh, and I moderate a video game website. Wiggy, huh?

First joined here to learn, inspired by the MetroMPG website, which I first spied years ago. Some of what I taught at that seminar and eco-drive (for kotse.com, back in June) came from here and there, and some from research culled around the internet. I like it here because it's not as full of the endless bickering over AGW, oil politics and EV versus ICE as other "green" sites. Just straight talk about modification and proper driving.

Ecomodder is a cool place to be. And without it, I wouldn't have gotten the chance to do that seminar.

[YeahPete]

I've done a bit with my wife every time I drive her honda fit. I usually net about 47-48 mpg. Now she likes to keep track of the milage. I just show her to time the lights, coast, conserve momentum.

She claims to have once got 58 mpg on the highway going 55 mph. I call BS. no way she beat my mileage. I do know that day she had high tailwinds though so its possible.

I also show people at work when I get to drive. I'm pretty much banned from driving now :P. Apparently they don't like pulse and glide or going slow.

[MetroMPG]

Sounds like a fun resume, niky.

[MetroMPG]

Originally Posted by YeahPete

I also show people at work when I get to drive. I'm pretty much banned from driving now :P. Apparently they don't like pulse and glide or going slow.

Ha! That's why I mentioned "...to a willing participant".

[slowmover]

My [ex] wife was willing enough when we got together. It was mainly the smoothness of better driving versus one particular aspect of the comprehensive whole (safety, insurance cost [accidents/tickets], vehicle longevity/reliability and then fuel economy).

Establishing new habits takes time as most of us learned to drive in our teen years where emotions may over-ride rationality . . later in life, with slower reaction speed and less overall energy those "bad habits" need to be approached in the overall sense of things wanted & needed. Separating need from want is a workable approach.

She wants to drive a Jeep, fine. She wants to drive a Lexus, fine (she did both along the way). Driving each of them well called for appealing to the motivation in buying them in the first place as each had strengths and weaknesses while onroad.

Over EPA wasn't hard when done in this manner.


Outstanding description, by the way, of you & your student!!

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[MetroMPG]

Originally Posted by slowmover

It was mainly the smoothness of better driving versus one particular aspect of the comprehensive whole (safety, insurance cost [accidents/tickets], vehicle longevity/reliability and then fuel economy).

The cool thing is: teaching (conservative) eco-driving habits goes a long way to addressing those other goals.

The student recognized this, too. She went from focusing quite a bit on the car in front of us, to taking in the bigger picture and smoothing out her reactions/mechanical operation overall - especially after we got her to increase her following distance and look further ahead.

Proactive > reactive.

[slowmover]

The cool thing is: teaching (conservative) eco-driving habits goes a long way to addressing those other goals.

Yes, I see it as there being no real differences among them. And why I limit myself on some practices so as to be consistent in an overall fashion.

Habits are crucial when underway. One set is sufficient, IMO.

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