Mental Models of Eco-Driving: Comparison of Driving Styles in a Simulator

Pampel, Sanna; Jamson, Samantha; Hibberd, Daryl; Barnard, Yvonne · 2019 · Crossref

DOI: 10.54941/ahfe100236

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Summary

This study investigates the mental models drivers possess regarding eco-driving, aiming to understand how they translate knowledge into practice. While eco-driving techniques can reduce fuel consumption by 5–10%, educational materials and monetary incentives often fail to change driver behavior. The research seeks to identify specific cognitive gaps—whether in knowledge, rules, or skills—to inform the design of more effective Eco-Driving Support Systems (EDSS). The authors utilize a mental model framework that categorizes driving cognition into knowledge-based (strategy), rule-based (decision logic), and skill-based (execution) levels. The experiment involved 16 licensed drivers who completed four driving runs on a desktop simulator: two "normal" runs, one "safe" run, and one "fuel-efficient" run. The order of the safe and eco runs was counterbalanced. Participants navigated urban scenarios involving acceleration, braking, and cruising, as well as a busy motorway section. Data collected at 60 Hz included pedal inputs, vehicle speed, acceleration, and time headway. The study tested hypotheses predicting that eco-driving would result in smoother acceleration, lower maximum pedal angles, and specific strategic choices compared to normal or safe driving. Results indicated that drivers altered their behavior when instructed to drive fuel-efficiently, though not always in ways consistent with optimal fuel-saving strategies. On the knowledge level, participants drove significantly slower during eco-runs than during normal or safe runs, contradicting the notion that eco-driving requires maintaining optimal speeds. On the skill level, drivers exhibited smoother pedal actions; specifically, the standard deviation of positive acceleration was lower during eco-driving in urban and motorway contexts, and the maximum accelerator pedal angle was significantly reduced. However, no significant differences were found on the rule level, suggesting drivers lacked consistent decision-making rules for eco-driving, such as adjusting braking initiation points or headway management. Gender differences were observed in brake pressure and deceleration variability, but these were likely artifacts of the simulator rather than genuine behavioral trends. The study concludes that while drivers possess mental models of eco-driving, these models contain misconceptions, particularly the association of eco-driving with slow speeds rather than smooth, efficient acceleration. The absence of consistent rule-based behaviors suggests that drivers do not automatically apply strategic adjustments without guidance. These findings imply that effective EDSS should target these specific cognitive gaps by providing feedback that corrects misconceptions about speed and encourages the development of consistent eco-driving rules, rather than relying solely on general instructions or financial incentives.

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• eco driving

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• Theoretical Contribution: computational model, theory or model