Eco-driving strategies in battery electric vehicle use – how do drivers adapt over time?

Eco-driving is of high importance when driving battery electric vehicles (BEVs) in terms of prolonging the vehicle´s limited range. A longitudinal field study with 40 participants was conducted to examine which eco-driving strategies users know before and after driving a BEV for 3 months. Furthermore, participant´s knowledge regarding eco-driving strategies with BEVs against internal combustion engine vehicles (ICEVs) was compared. After 3 months of BEV usage, a driving test was applied in order to investigate the strategies drivers apply to drive energy efficiently and to estimate the effectiveness of these strategies. Results reveal that reported eco-driving strategies for BEVs and ICEVs differ significantly. Users reported significantly more BEV eco-driving strategies after experiencing the BEV for 3 months than before. Furthermore, drivers were able to significantly reduce energy consumption by applying eco-driving strategies in the driving test. Reported eco-driving strategies proved to be effective. The results imply that eco-driving strategies for ICEVs have to be adapted for BEV eco-driving and that drivers gain a deeper understanding of factors that influence energy consumption by experiencing the BEV for a longer period of time. Based on the results, support of the driver through training or assistance systems is recommended.