Page 24
Call Sign August 2011
The Energy Saving Trust and TfL, through
Call Sign was recently invited to participate on an Eco-Driving
Drivesense, have got together to offer new taxi
instruction course which, we understand, is expected to become
recruits a greater awareness of driving more
part of the driving test requirement for new taxi-drivers in the not
economically together with the benefits such
too distant future. So we sent photographer, Alan Green (E52)
advanced skills bring in terms of reduced taxi
fuel bills, less wear on the taxi, improved pas-
along to take a look.
senger comfort and of course, a better envi-
Eco-Driving Techniques
ronment for all around us! To date, Energy
Saving Trust have trained over 20,000 drivers
from more than 500 organisations including
EDF Energy, Microsoft, Procter & Gamble,
Hampshire NHS Trust and Oxford City
Council. So this course has to be worth listen-
ing to.
Alan's instructor on the day was John
Chambers, a man with vast knowledge of dri-
ving just about any type of vehicle you can
think of and during the one-to-one tutorial,
Call Sign learnt some interesting new tech-
niques to improve the fuel consumption of a
taxi. These skills can be applied to most vehi-
cles, so there is no advantage in using your
own vehicle and a vehicle with a trip comput-
er that shows what you are or are not doing
Alan Green and Eco instruc-
The trip meter shows 28.2 mpg
correctly is used. We had a Viano, which is
tor John Chambers
having been 21.6 mpg on the
similar to the Vito.
first run. Inset pic: A heat seek-
keep you moving with the traffic
ing sensor on the top of a set of
flow," John said as we moved
The drive begins...
steadily through the crowded
lights. Hands up if you thought it
Firstly, we drove freely around the local
City streets, keeping the engine
was a camera
streets near Dial-a-Cab House on a set course
revs as low as we could.
your driveway when you have complet-
so that John could get a feel for the drivers'
"Trick the gearbox into selecting its highest
ed your shift so that you pull effortlessly away
habits, noting the average speed and fuel con-
gear by giving a tiny burst of throttle to force
in a forward direction the next time you use
sumption of the supplied vehicle. Driving nor-
the `box to change up and then hold that gear
the cab and not waste fuel manoeuvring on a
mally, 21.6 mpg with an average speed of 8
by just tickling the gas pedal as necessary.
cold engine. And don't forget to check your
mph was achieved on this first run a com-
When going downhill, use the weight of your
tyre pressures regularly, as deflated tyres pro-
parable figure to that of many TX drivers.
vehicle and a gentle burst of power to give
duce more drag for the engine to overcome, a
Then came an intensive lesson in economi-
you a run up the other side and apply only
bit like driving up a steep hill all the time," he
cal and smoother Smarter Driving as the EST
enough throttle to maintain momentum, do
added.
course is entitled, encompassing all sorts of
not accelerate uphill as this produces the
traffic and road conditions around Highbury
worst fuel economy."
and the City. John imparted his extensive
And the results...
"On the topic of maintaining momentum,"
knowledge with humour, gently pointing out
John continued, "it might help if I explain that
So off we went again, duplicating the original
where improvements to fuel economy (and
there are different methods of operating traffic
route taken during the first section of the tuto-
driving technique) could easily be made with-
lights which, if understood, will allow you to
rial, this time putting into practice all the tech-
out compromising on journey time.
turn those light sequences to your advantage
niques that had been learned during the les-
"Try moving off from stationary a little more
and keep you moving. There are the standard
son. The traffic was even heavier than had
gently and try to keep moving as much as pos-
`timed' lights in general use, some lights are
been encountered earlier, with the added dis-
sible once you are under way," he advised,
sensor operated which can detect traffic flow
advantage of being in the Viano and not being
"because a lot of energy and engine power is
able to use the bus lanes that a taxi would use
and maintain priority as needed through infra-
used to get your vehicle moving from rest,"
to aid momentum and journey time, yet with
red motion detecting beams, while some lights
adding that the secret was momentum.
all that a fuel consumption of 28.2 mpg was
have heat sensors that know when a vehicle is
"Always look well ahead to judge prevailing
achieved with the average speed staying at 8
close by and will respond accordingly. Most
traffic conditions and how you may be affect-
mph! The vehicle trip computer peaked at
junctions have weight sensing pads fitted
ed by it, whether you can keep moving sim-
29.3 mpg and 12 mph during our second
below the road surface close to the traffic
ply by slowing down or speeding up, which is
timed run, even greater fuel economy for a
lights to detect the volume of traffic on a par-
easier on the engine and therefore uses less
similar journey time and an overall improve-
ticular section of roadway. This will allow you
energy, or whether you will have to come to
ment of 31% less fuel used!
to control the light sequence in your favour by
a stop and have to move off again from a sta-
"If I have to boil it down to any one thing,
moving closer to a traffic light and pointing
tionary position."
it's to keep your vehicle moving as much as
your engine radiator toward the heat seeking
"If you do have to stop," John continued,
possible without actually coming to a stop, but
sensor, flashing your headlights toward an
"try to judge the time you will have to wait. If
of course all the techniques add up to greater
infra-red beam or approaching a weight gov-
it's likely to be up to half a minute, slide the
fuel efficiency and a considerable financial
erned junction to turn the lights green in your
auto gearbox into neutral as the engine will
saving over the year," John said in conclusion.
favour so that you can keep moving. Not
then simply run at idle speed without the drag
Readers may wish to consult with their taxi
many people know that," John said laughing
of the gearbox. This eliminates the creep fac-
service agent before employing some of the
enthusiastically!
tor so familiar to taxi drivers. If you have to
techniques suggested above.
"Other little tricks to improve fuel economy
wait longer than 30 seconds, you can actually
Our grateful thanks to Mercedes Benz and
are to reduce the use of air-con systems (try
switch off the engine to save even more fuel,
Andy Hastings for putting a vehicle at our dis-
opening a window), turn the heater controls
yet be ready in seconds to re-start and slip into
posal and special thanks to John Chambers of
down to zero until the engine reaches its nor-
gear when traffic conditions allow with the
121 Drive for his expert driver training pro-
mal running temperature, which will be quick-
minimum of delay. One minute in traffic at
gram, and of course Energy Saving Trust.
ly achieved as less coolant circulates in the
idle equals a saving of 0.1 mpg. Always use
system, meaning that the engine is performing
the highest possible gear and the lightest
© Call Sign Magazine MMX1
at peak efficiency. Also, try reversing onto
touch of the throttle pedal, just enough to
