Eco-Driving

Eco-driving is a way of driving that reduces fuel consumption, CO₂ emissions and vehicle wear. It relies on anticipation, smooth driving, moderate speed and a well-maintained vehicle. In a fleet, it is measured with telematics and fuel records.

Which habits lower fuel consumption?

ADEME, the French Agency for Ecological Transition, has put a figure on the effect of each habit on its eco-driving page (in French). The table uses these figures and shows how to track each habit in a fleet.

Habit	Effect measured by ADEME	How to track it in a fleet
Drive smoothly in town	Aggressive driving uses up to 20% more fuel	Harsh acceleration and harsh braking alerts
Shift up before high revs	Over-revving can use up to 20% more	Time spent at high revs, reported by the device
Drive 10 km/h slower on the highway	1 to 3 liters saved on a 500 km trip	Speed recorded on highway trips
Switch off the engine when stopped	Better to switch off than let it idle for more than 10 seconds	Idle time per vehicle
Check tire pressure	+1.2% fuel consumption when 0.3 bar under, +2.4% when 0.5 bar under	Monthly check built into inspections
Choose fuel-efficient tires	Up to 5% fuel saved	A criterion written into the tire purchasing policy
Remove roof boxes and racks you don't need	10% to 20% extra consumption	A check during condition reports
Use air conditioning in moderation	+1% to 7% consumption depending on the climate	A written rule, with the temperature set no lower than 22°C

ADEME advises checking tire pressure at least once a month, when the tires are cold. A well-maintained vehicle uses less fuel and pollutes less.

What savings can a fleet expect?

ADEME gives no overall percentage: it talks about saving several tankfuls a year. The actual gain depends on how your vehicles are used: town or highway, loaded vans or service vehicles.

The only reliable way to put a figure on your savings is to measure before and after. Establish each vehicle's baseline consumption, in liters per 100 km, from fill-ups and mileage. Our guide to calculating fuel consumption details the method.

Then compare the same period after the program starts. Fuel card transactions spare you manual entry and missed records.

How does telematics make eco-driving measurable?

Promoting eco-driving without measuring it is hard. Telematics makes the subject concrete, because it records the actions that weigh on consumption.

• Acceleration and braking: jerky driving wastes fuel and wears brakes and tires.
• Speed: high speed on the highway drives up consumption.
• Engine speed: time spent at high revs points to late gear changes.
• Idling: an engine running while the vehicle is stationary burns fuel for nothing.

This data builds an indicator for each driver, useful for targeted training or team challenges.

It describes driving behavior. The CNIL, France's data protection authority, considers it personal data as soon as it is linked to a person. So inform drivers before any tracking.

Does eco-driving also improve safety?

Yes, because the habits overlap: anticipation, safe following distances, appropriate speed. Excessive or inappropriate speed is the leading cause of fatal accidents, according to ONISR, France's road safety observatory.

An eco-driving program therefore serves two goals at once. It fits naturally into your road safety policy.

How do you launch an eco-driving program?

1. Measure the starting point: consumption by vehicle and by driver, over a representative period.
2. Choose a few indicators: idling, harsh acceleration and average consumption are enough to start with.
3. Inform and train: present the goals, the purpose of the data and the expected habits.
4. Report back often: share results by team, then in one-to-one meetings.
5. Measure the effect: compare consumption on a like-for-like basis and adjust the goals.

How Dadycar helps

Dadycar tracks fuel and expenses from the Fleet plan up. The fuel cards module centralizes transactions, and the dashboard has a dedicated fuel view. See fuel consumption tracking.

With the Fleet + Telematics plan, trips come in through a GPS/OBD device or the connected vehicle. Alerts with adjustable thresholds flag driving deviations. Anomaly and fraud detection spots data inconsistencies.

CO₂ is tracked from the Free plan up. The sustainability module adds the state of charge of electric vehicles and the energy transition analysis. The plans are detailed on the pricing page.

Frequently asked questions

Does eco-driving waste time?

Very little. According to ADEME, driving 10 km/h slower on a Lyon–Paris trip adds 18 minutes. In return, every 500 km trip saves 1 to 3 liters of fuel.

How do you train drivers in eco-driving?

Combine hands-on training with regular individual feedback based on trip data. Set simple goals, such as reducing idling, and reward progress rather than rankings.

Does eco-driving apply to electric vehicles?

Yes. Anticipation and smooth driving save battery energy, whatever the powertrain. For an electric fleet, track consumption in kWh per 100 km rather than in liters.