Smarter Driving
Smarter Driving training teaches your employees to drive more fuel efficiently. It could help to cut your fuel bills - for a driver doing 12,000 miles a year you would save £250.
Who's taken Smarter Driving lessons?
We've also developed a Smarter Driving package tailored to electric vehicles:
The Smarter Driving EV pilot programme
Alternatively, if you are an individual looking to book a Smarter Driving lesson, find out more about our new training program.
Overview
Smarter Driving sessions give your drivers techniques that enable them to drive more fuel efficiently. Costing just £20+VAT per driver, they can be run from your own premises by an approved driving instructor accredited by the Energy Saving Trust. The training can be undertaken with any of your drivers, whether or not they drive on company business.
Benefits
- Because the course only costs £20 per driver, it can pay for itself within a few weeks, bringing welcome relief from today's high fuel prices.
- Smarter Driving can improve fuel consumption by around 15 per cent, helping you save money and carbon emissions.
- The training is subsidised by the Department for Transport, so it represents the best possible value for money.
- Smarter drivers tend to be safer ones too. With training, your drivers are less likely to suffer from the human and financial costs of road traffic accidents.
Who's taken Smarter Driving lessons?
To date, we've trained over 20,000 drivers from more than 500 organisations, such as EDF Energy, Microsoft, Procter & Gamble, Hampshire NHS Trust and Oxford City Council. Organisations across the country have found that the fuel savings they have made from Smarter Driving courses make it more than just financially worthwhile. It enhances their investment in people and their CSR reputation too.
Smarter Driving in action
Take a look at our short video and see some smarter driving training in action.
Book your training now
To arrange Smarter Driving training for your organisation, or to learn more, contact us now:
- email us at smarterdriving@est.org.uk
- call 0845 602 1425.
EV pilot programme
The Energy Saving Trust delivered a pilot programme funded by the Department for Transport from Feb until the end of May 2011. The aims of the pilot were to develop a methodology for Smarter Driving training specific to electric cars, to prove whether or not the concept would work as well in EVs as in ICE cars, and to offer a potential solution to range anxiety.
We offered free training to purchasers of electric cars through the government Plug-in Car Grant programme. The training was tailored specifically for EVs and delivered by our experienced Smarter Driving instructors. Over the three months we worked closely with car manufacturers to reach their customers. We trained private buyers, company car and pool drivers, EV car dealers, and even members of the country’s first electric car club.
Maximising range and learning new skills
Results from 67 drivers trained show an average reduction in energy consumed after training of 16% equating to an increase in range of 20%. Our survey [1] of participants shows that all respondents were impressed with the Smarter Driving training and found it useful. A large number mentioned they had learned and improved on a number of skills and some respondents also said that they were more confident in driving the vehicle after the driving lesson.
“Driving the correct way is more relaxing than driving the wrong way.” Smarter Driving training participant
“I feel a lot more clued up about EV driving now – I think anyone buying one should really be given some training on how to get the most out of it.” Smarter Driving EV participant
Guide to Smarter Driving EVs
Green Fleet Review
Pinpoint precisely where you can cut fleet costs and emissions with highly tailored advice from a Green Fleet Review. For fleets of 100 vehicles or more.
Fleet Health Check
Reduce your fleet fuel bill by up to 20% with a free consultant’s report from the Energy Saving Trust. Our free Fleet Health Check service will estimate the carbon footprint of your fleet and show you where - and how - you can make cost and carbon savings. For fleets of 20 to 100 vehicles.
Smaller fleets
Find answers to your green fleet questions with expert telephone advice. For fleets of fewer than 20 vehicles.
Transport certification
Demonstrate your fleet's environmental performance with Motorvate - an independent verification of fleet emissions to boost your environmental credentials and support ISO 14001 certification. This section also contains the NRMM Register of approved companies and after-treatment systems.