title: Ecodriving in hybrid electric vehicles--Exploring challenges for user-energy interaction.
abstract: Hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) can help to reduce transport emissions; however, user behaviour has a significant effect on the energy savings actually achieved in everyday usage. The present research aimed to advance understanding of HEV drivers' ecodriving strategies, and the challenges for optimal user-energy interaction. We conducted interviews with 39 HEV drivers who achieved above-average fuel efficiencies. Regression analyses showed that technical system knowledge and ecodriving motivation were both important predictors for ecodriving efficiency. Qualitative data analyses showed that drivers used a plethora of ecodriving strategies and had diverse conceptualisations of HEV energy efficiency regarding aspects such as the efficiency of actively utilizing electric energy or the efficiency of different acceleration strategies. Drivers also reported several false beliefs regarding HEV energy efficiency that could impair ecodriving efforts. Results indicate that ecodriving support systems should facilitate anticipatory driving and help users locate and maintain drivetrain states of maximum efficiency.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Cognitive and Engineering Psychology, Technische Universität Chemnitz, Chemnitz, Germany. Electronic address: thomas.franke@psychologie.tu-chemnitz.de.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Franke
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Cognitive and Engineering Psychology, Technische Universität Chemnitz, Chemnitz, Germany.
authors.forename: Matthias Georg
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Arend
authors.affiliation: Transportation Research Group, Faculty of Engineering and the Environment, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK.
authors.forename: Rich C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: McIlroy
authors.affiliation: Transportation Research Group, Faculty of Engineering and the Environment, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK.
authors.forename: Neville A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Stanton
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001334:Automobile Driving / Q000523:psychology*; D001336:Automobiles; D003246:Conservation of Energy Resources / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D019359:Knowledge; D008297:Male; D008328:Man-Machine Systems; D008875:Middle Aged; D001335:Vehicle Emissions
chemical_list: D001335:Vehicle Emissions
keywords: Driving behaviour; Ecodriving; Hybrid electric vehicles; User-energy interaction