ACTUATE - Advanced Training and Education for Safe Eco-driving of Clean Vehicles

Intelligent Energy Europe STEER Programme

Studies show that eco-driving has the potential to make bus and tram fleets more energy efficient. The ACTUATE project will therefore develop and apply advanced training and education services for eco-driving of clean vehicles in the electric public transport sector. By supporting the introduction of safe eco-driving trainings, ACTUATE further exploits the additional energy-saving potential of clean vehicles such as trams, hybrid buses, trolleybuses and e-buses which will further promote their take-up.

ACTUATE’s trainings will complement existing eco-driving forces that primarily focus on diesel-powered vehicles. The project lays a particular focus on drivers as they are the pivotal element for better driving performance and energy saving. Encouragement campaigns will ensure that the drivers continue to apply the instructions provided in the trainings in the long term.

ACTUATE is supported by the Intelligent Energy Europe's STEER Programme.
Project Goal

Eco-driving is driving that optimises energy use and contributes significantly to emission reduction as promoted by the European Commission. Identifying and reducing inefficient driving habits (e.g. harsh braking, hard accelerating) and energy-wasting manoeuvres (e.g. idling) has the potential to reduce both operating costs and emissions as well as to increase passenger safety.

While the potential of eco-driving for private cars and diesel buses is well understood, eco-driving for electric fleets in the public transport sector is not yet widely known or practiced.

Against this background, ACTUATE's main goal is to provide trainings and education for safe eco-driving of clean vehicles.

Results

If entire electric bus and tram fleets can be made more energy efficient through driver training, several thousand euros and vast quantities of energy can be saved per vehicle per year. This also means reducing air pollution and CO2 emissions in our cities, and an even bigger environmental advantage for clean public transport vehicles over comparable diesel vehicles and private cars.

ACTUATE will work towards improved driving behaviour and motivation of clean vehicle public transport drivers to drive more eco-friendly. The project will define minimum criteria and standards for safe eco-driving and integrate these into basic and further education at numerous public transport operator organisations as well as into the future European Qualification Framework for professional drivers. ACTUATE will also integrate safe eco-driving information per electric vehicle type into the clean vehicle portal of the European Commission. All outputs and results of the project such as minimum training criteria, learning outcomes and standards for safe eco-driving will help other public transport providers to train their own drivers in a tried and tested manner.

ACTUATE will provide a range of information material on safe eco-driving of electric bus and tram fleets. This includes a starter kit as well as free e-learning courses for safe eco-driving for the four defined types of electric vehicles. ACTUATE will also develop dedicated driver training concepts for trams, trolleybuses, hybrid buses and trolleybuses with supercapacitors as well as golden rules for safe eco-driving. In addition, ACTUATE will publicise its evaluation results for energy savings and effects on driving performance generated solely through trainings (before and after comparisons).

Rupprecht Consult is coordinator of ACTUATE

• Project Duration: 05/2012 – 10/2014
• Project Coordinator: Rupprecht Consult GmbH

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