CPC Eco-Driving 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: How can a driver use hills to their advantage for fuel economy?
- Always maintain the same speed up and down hills
- Build momentum before an uphill, allow speed to reduce slightly on the climb, and use gravity on descents (Correct answer)
- Drive faster uphill to get it over with
- Always use the highest gear on hills
Correct answer: Build momentum before an uphill, allow speed to reduce slightly on the climb, and use gravity on descents
Eco-driving on hills involves building speed slightly before an incline, allowing speed to drop a little on the climb (rather than using excessive throttle), and using the descent to recover speed with minimal throttle. This uses gravity rather than fighting it.
Question 2: What is the fuel saving potential of good eco-driving techniques?
- Less than 1%
- 5-15% reduction in fuel consumption (Correct answer)
- 50% reduction in fuel consumption
- Eco-driving actually increases fuel consumption
Correct answer: 5-15% reduction in fuel consumption
Consistent application of eco-driving techniques can typically save 5-15% on fuel consumption. For a vehicle doing 100,000 miles per year at 8 mpg, a 10% saving would be approximately 1,250 litres of diesel — a significant cost and environmental benefit.
Question 3: Why is it important to avoid excessive engine idling from an eco-driving perspective?
- Idling has no effect on fuel consumption
- An idling engine burns approximately 1-2 litres per hour of fuel while doing no useful work (Correct answer)
- Idling is good for the engine
- Modern engines do not consume fuel at idle
Correct answer: An idling engine burns approximately 1-2 litres per hour of fuel while doing no useful work
An HGV engine idling typically burns 1-2 litres of diesel per hour while producing no useful work. Over a year, unnecessary idling can waste thousands of litres. Anti-idling technology and driver awareness can significantly reduce this waste.
Question 4: How does vehicle weight affect fuel consumption?
- Weight has no effect on modern vehicles
- Every additional tonne increases fuel consumption — reducing unnecessary weight improves economy (Correct answer)
- Heavier vehicles are more fuel-efficient due to momentum
- Only the trailer weight matters, not the tractor
Correct answer: Every additional tonne increases fuel consumption — reducing unnecessary weight improves economy
Every additional tonne of vehicle weight increases fuel consumption, particularly during acceleration and hill climbing. Drivers should ensure unnecessary items are not carried, trailers are not overloaded, and empty return trips are avoided where possible.
Question 5: What role does the driver's attitude play in fuel-efficient driving?
- Attitude has no effect on fuel consumption
- A calm, patient driving style leads to smoother driving, better anticipation, and significantly lower fuel consumption (Correct answer)
- Aggressive driving is more fuel-efficient because journeys are shorter
- Only vehicle technology affects fuel consumption
Correct answer: A calm, patient driving style leads to smoother driving, better anticipation, and significantly lower fuel consumption
A calm, patient attitude promotes smoother acceleration, better anticipation of traffic conditions, less aggressive braking, and more consistent speeds — all of which reduce fuel consumption. Stress and impatience lead to aggressive driving patterns that waste fuel.
Question 6: How does correct use of the vehicle's telematics system help with eco-driving?
- Telematics cannot help with fuel efficiency
- Telematics provides real-time feedback on driving style and identifies areas for improvement in fuel efficiency (Correct answer)
- Telematics only tracks vehicle location
- Only managers can use telematics data
Correct answer: Telematics provides real-time feedback on driving style and identifies areas for improvement in fuel efficiency
Modern telematics systems provide real-time data on driving style including harsh braking events, excessive idling, over-revving, and fuel consumption. This feedback helps drivers identify and correct fuel-wasting behaviours. Many systems also provide fuel-efficiency scores.
CPC Eco-Driving 2
How can a driver use hills to their advantage for fuel economy?