Design matters: Mid-term results from a multi-design fuel economy feedback experiment

Abstract

Energy feedback to drivers is one method to engage drivers in energy saving driving styles. In contrast to the occasional broadcasting of general driving tips, in-vehicle energy feedback gives drivers access to accurate information about their specific driving situation on an ongoing basis. The increasing prevalence of such feedback in new vehicles suggests a belief that ongoing, in-vehicle feedback is better. However, there is little reliable evidence of the effectiveness of energy feedback in real-word driving in passenger vehicles. This study begins to fill this gap. Participants are given a commercially-available fuel consumption display and recording device to use in their personal vehicle for two months. For the first month the display is blank as the device records a baseline of driving and fuel consumption. For the second month the display is switched on to show drivers one of three feedback designs. This paper presents preliminary results (N=75) of a larger study that will include 150 drivers along the California-Nevada Interstate-80 corridor. Using a mixed-effects linear model, we find an average driving efficiency improvement of between 1.5% and 6% (gallons/100 miles) between the without- and with-feedback months, depending on the feedback designs. Categorizing trips into types based on distance and multiple speed characteristics, there are differences in the apparent effectiveness of feedback across trip types. Finally, an overall decrease in fuel consumption of 10% between periods was observed. While approximately 3% of that is explained by changes in driving behavior, the remaining 7% is due to reduced VMT. © 2013 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.