EcoManager was introduced to the market in 2008 and Arriva UK Bus was the first company to install the award winning system on its buses in a process which began in 2007. Their main objective was to improve safety and save fuel by alerting drivers to the impact of their driving style on their overall safety, the environment and the comfort of their passengers.
Now, over three years on, EcoManager is installed widely throughout Arriva in the UK and Europe, and their thousands of drivers have achieved a significant reduction in incidents and savings in fuel and CO2 emissions, with fuel savings in excess of 12% reported at some locations.
EcoManager assists drivers in adopting a more economic, smoother and safer driving style by highlighting when braking, accelerating and cornering is done correctly or otherwise through an in-cab driver’s aid. The driver’s aid lights a series of red, amber and green LEDs on a real-time display according to how efficiently the bus is being driven. Online management reporting software shows which drivers on which routes are driving efficiently and safely and highlights any areas where they may benefit from additional instruction.
The fuel savings made so far have also equated to a significant saving on CO2. Arriva North West region, which was the first to install EcoManager, has saved 7,000 tons of carbon a year. Arriva’s carbon reduction has been recognised by the Carbon Trust which awarded the company the Carbon Trust Standard. This Standard identifies organisations that have genuinely acted on climate change and have committed to continuing emission reduction.
The Arriva Runcorn depot was the first to trial EcoManager in 2007. When it was rolled out across the fleet, drivers were involved from the start and were shown an information video demonstrating the impact of their actions on CO2 emissions, safety and passenger comfort. As a result of the awareness campaign and focus given to EcoManager during its launch, fuel savings at this depot averaged an impressive 15% and accidents reduced by 64%, highlighting the importance of the launch process in introducing EcoManager.
EcoManager proved to be such a success in Runcorn that Arriva made the decision to roll it out across its UK bus fleet and is now introducing it in some of its mainland European operations. EcoManager’s exclusive and simple driver’s aid transcends language barriers and the simple red, amber and green LEDs make EcoManager accessible for drivers in any country.
EcoManager’s management reporting system uses simple graphics and easy to read layouts to allow bus operators to report on safety and efficiency throughout their fleets and in doing so they can manage risk and costs by identifying areas for improvement. Reports show how well drivers are performing against their colleagues ensuring sustained focus on safety and efficiency.
If some drivers are found to be performing below average, then a training program using the EcoManager software can be used. This best practice guide to improving driving standards using EcoManager is formed of several phases which are specially designed to improve overall performance and increase the savings made using EcoManager.
This type of initiative ensures that the initial savings are sustained beyond the launch period. However, bosses at Arriva have found further benefits of changing driver behaviour using EcoManager. There is evidence to suggest that in the longer term wear and tear on engines and gear boxes will be reduced. Also, there has been a reduction in the amount of downtime due to repairs to bodywork following accidents.
The reduction in accidents has been significant, and has improved driver and passenger safety. Figures from Arriva show that in the first year that EcoManager was installed in one depot there was a reduction in the number of all types of incidents of over 64%. This improvement continued in the second year with a further reduction of 31.8% and in particular passenger falls were reduced by 60%.
At other depots the downwards trend in accident statistics continued following EcoManager installation and training, with many also achieving a significant reduction in incidents.
Arriva conducts an annual, independent survey of passengers to find out how they rate the bus service. Passengers reported a recognised improvement in their perception of ’smoothness and freedom from jolting’ after EcoManager was installed (Mori Poll data).
Arriva has also been able to use the detailed fleet management reports generated by EcoManager to improve vehicle deployment. By comparing different vehicles on the same route, different driving styles in the same vehicle and a particular vehicle type’s performance on different routes, Arriva is able to allocate the most efficient vehicle to each route.
Lynne Beale, Group Risk & Eco Project Manager for Arriva, comments: “When we embarked on the EcoManager project in 2007 we had clear fuel and carbon saving objectives. Many depots have exceeded what we expected in terms of results, and our drivers continue to drive efficiently which demonstrates EcoManager’s ability to influence a change in driver behaviourover a sustained period of time.. The EcoManager device which sits on the dashboard acts as a reference to assist drivers in efficient driving techniques and there is even some competition amongst drivers to be the most efficient. The additional benefits of a better journey experience for our passengers have been a bonus and clearly have wider benefits for the business.”
Another significant benefit to emerge from the promotion of eco driving has been the effect on bus drivers’ health and wellbeing. Drivers have commented how learning the eco style of driving has benefited them personally by reducing levels of fatigue, anxiety and stress.
Despite being taught how to drive using anticipation and planning techniques, bad habits develop and attitudes to the job change. A combination of these factors can cause strain both physically and mentally by drivers putting themselves under increased pressure. The affects of these personal changes result in drivers functioning on adrenaline, becoming agitated and more fatigued than is necessary. At the end of a shift drivers who have worked with increased levels of adrenaline are in a higher vigilant, agitated state and find it harder to relax and unwind. Exposed to this each day over many years can lead to longer term health problems.
A driver commented: ”Eco is the best thing that could have happened to me, my wife thinks I am a different man.” When questioned, the driver explained how he was happier in his job because he did not feel under pressure anymore. He had finally realised after fifteen years bus driving, that trying to driver faster did not make him reach the destination any quicker.
Tags: Case Study, Reduce Fuel