ASSESSMENT OF THE POSSIBILITY OF INTEGRATED ENERGY INDICATORS USING FOR TRAINING DRIVERS TO DRIVE ECONOMICALLY

Abstract

The article considers the issues of research methods relevance for minimizing fuel consumption by trucks, since a significant contribution to global emissions is made during the process of road cargo transportation. It is shown that the methods of motor vehicles economical driving and the eco-driving skills of truck drivers should be considered as an important factor in reducing fuel consumption. Experimental studies for assessment of the driver training effectiveness in eco-driving skills have been conducted. For providing an objective and dynamic assessment of eco-driving skills, an energy approach was used. At the same time, integral indicators were evaluated that directly characterize unproductive energy consumption during driving. Experimental studies were conducted by two stages. At the first stage, highly qualified drivers demonstrated the best eco-driving skills. At the second stage, drivers were trained in eco-driving by instructor, and a special device recorded unproductive energy costs. The results of the experiment at the second stage showed that driver training allowed achieving a reduction in fuel consumption by an average of 13.6%. It is established that the training has a long-term effect. In particular, 3 months after the eco-driving training, the reduction in fuel consumption was 4%. This allowed make a conclusion, that long-term support to the driver is necessary after completing eco-driving training in order to consolidate positive changes in driver behavior. Thus, the promotion of eco-driving training in transport companies can lead to a significant reduction in fuel costs and CO₂ emissions.