Ecodriving and Car. From Dream to Reality

Automobile mobility was one of the driving forces behind economic and social development throughout the 20th century. It transformed lifestyles, landscapes and people. It has created a new relationship with space and time, giving individuals the feeling of greater freedom and autonomy, but gradually alienating them from individual travel and fossil fuels. It has also made a major contribution to what is commonly referred to as the Anthropocene, a period marked by the visible and measurable influence of humanity on the environment.

The motor car has gradually caught up with the problems it poses, firstly in terms of road hazards and then, even more fundamentally, in terms of pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. To limit its deleterious effects on the environment and continue to be a driving force behind development and social progress, it is gradually transforming itself in an attempt to enter a more sustainable framework, as exemplified by technical improvements designed to limit fuel consumption, the development of hybrid or electric vehicles, and the progress of work on autonomous vehicles.

Eco-driving is one of the ways in which cars can potentially reduce energy consumption and the impact of travel on the planet. For the time being, it remains primarily the driver's responsibility, even if a number of technical improvements to the vehicle, road infrastructure and regulations encourage it. In fact, it concerns all powertrains, whether combustion, electric or hybrid.

In this article, combining approaches from the engineering sciences and the humanities, we propose to analyze the new room for maneuver offered by eco-driving, to give an accurate picture of its potential in the context of current projections towards more sustainable mobility. At the same time, we'll be looking at how eco-driving can become a sustainable and desirable solution for drivers.

To do this, we'll start by defining eco-driving more precisely and recalling its economic, ecological and road safety implications.

We will then show how the determination of eco-driving profiles can be viewed as an optimal control problem, with a potential gain depending on a set of possible scenarios.

We will also analyze the various levers that can be used to drive while limiting pollutant emissions, firstly through training, and secondly through the vehicle itself, its features and the tools available to help drivers reduce their energy consumption.

Finally, we'll discuss the role of eco-driving in the context of eco-responsible travel, highlighting its potential strengths and limitations.