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

[euromodder]

Originally Posted by songman

I explained to the 80 year old father of a friend in Naples (Italy) that my hypermiling techniques included coasting downhill with the engine off - He thought I had an advanced suicide wish

That's the generation that used the very same techniques after WW2 though.

First time I coasted with my dad - of similar vintage- in the car, he noticed it right away, said he used to do that too back in the 50s.

[elhigh]

I can't do it.

My wife is a serious multitasker and has her mind on LOTS of other stuff while driving. She freely admits she hates driving, too, so I don't think she's especially interested in improving her technique. Every time she uses the car when it comes back the IMA battery level is right at the bottom and the indicated MPG has dropped a few points.

Fortunately I love to drive, so she rarely does, and that useless phantom brake pedal in the passenger side doesn't get much use.

[MetroMPG]

Laughed that the phantom pedal comment.

It's true - family teaching family is usually a recipe for disaster.

The driver training company I used to work for actually advised against it. (No surprise there; it was in our self interest of course.) But we also offered free "co-driver" training so the parents (usually) got an overview of what we were teaching the new driver. We wanted them to understand why we were having them do things that they might not be familiar with, particularly some of the defensive techniques.

[Piwoslaw]

Originally Posted by MetroMPG

It's true - family teaching family is usually a recipe for disaster.

Thankfully my wife is an exception When I look through the trip log I can't tell which entry is whose - we both have very similar average speed and fuel consumption. The handwriting of the entry isn't a tip, as the passanger often records the data while the driver is parking.

[MetroMPG]

Thirsty little bugger, this one!

But the owner (another family member ... an aunt) was surprised & pleased at the difference a few basic techniques could make in city driving. The usual big suspect:

- looking well ahead and anticipating lights & traffic to avoid rushing into situations where hard braking is required. Momentum is your friend!

A former manual transmission driver, she was also more than happy to slide the shift lever over and take "manual" control over the default shift logic of the CVT.

I've posted about "short shifting" this car before: http://ecomodder.com/forum/showthrea...ing-21149.html

You can get the RPM down significantly in city driving by bapping the shift lever until "5th" gear (fake 5th... it's a CVT!) is displayed.

[Daox]

That is quite the increase. Nicely done.

[jcp123]

Yeah, I tried with my wife. She won't have any of it...

[MetroMPG]

Must have better teachers:

[T]he Japan Automobile Federation holds [seminars] across the country to teach energy-saving driving skills.

...

Instructors ride with participants in a training session to teach eco-driving skills. "An average 20 to 30 percent improvement in fuel efficiency is realized through (changes to) driving practices," said an instructor from JAF's Tokyo branch.

Source: Volatile gasoline prices draw attention to 'eco-driving' skills | ABS-CBN News

Beats the heck out of the average ~14% improvement of my group.

[niky]

That's probably just an estimate.

I've seen industry estimates that also quote 30% for minor modifications to behaviour. (we used the number for an advertorial... it was provided by the sponsor... since my byline wasn't on it, I didn't mind passing on their number...)

Probably means their baseline is a sixteen year old with a lead foot.

[BabyDiesel]

Darin,

I'm going to post the message I sent you here.

"Good afternoon Darin! I have juggled the idea around about doing ecodriving classes down here in NC. I was wondering if you would have any specific pointers and tips for a new guy

I am probably going to charge very low hourly rates, if any at all. The cheap fuel we have now is not going to give people a big incentive to pay for this. If anything, it will be their useful info for when gas prices do spike and it is more exposure for Ecomodder."

Also, the prevailing mindset here is not very friendly to eco-driving