Automakers Introduce ‘EcoDriving’ National Fuel Use/CO2 Reduction Program

    DENVER, Aug. 18 /EMWNews/ -- Automakers today announced

EcoDriving(TM) (http://www.EcoDrivingUSA.com), a comprehensive, nationwide effort

to save consumers money at the gas pump, reduce fuel use and cut carbon

dioxide (CO2) emissions. The industry also applauded California and

Colorado for being the first states to support this consumer awareness

program. The Environmental Defense Fund also participated in the launch of

the EcoDriving initiative.



    "You can save money and save the environment by driving green," said

Dave McCurdy, president and CEO of the Alliance of Automobile

Manufacturers. "Through EcoDriving, 10 top automakers and the states of

California and Colorado have found we share an important commitment, and we

commend Governor Schwarzenegger and Governor Ritter for their leadership in

engaging consumers in green driving. Drivers don't have to wait to buy a

new, fuel-efficient vehicle to start reducing fuel costs and CO2...though I

do encourage everyone to buy one of our new fuel-efficient vehicles

immediately."



    By following a set of subtle and easy-to-use best practices for driving

and vehicle maintenance, a typical EcoDriver(TM) can improve mileage by

about 15 percent. "Today's automobiles are really computers on wheels, with

more than 3,000 interactive parts operating as a complex system. The more

you know about your machine, the better you can reduce fuel use and CO2

emissions," said McCurdy.



    EcoDriving produces the highest mileage from every single vehicle,

regardless of vehicle size and age, so it offers an unmatched reach in

addressing energy and climate issues by potentially affecting the nation's

entire fleet of 245 million automobiles. The program's benefits are

potentially huge:



    -- If just half of all drivers nationwide practiced moderate levels of

EcoDriving, annual CO2 emissions could be reduced by about 100 million

tons, or the equivalent of heating and powering 8.5 million households.



    -- If all Americans practiced EcoDriving, it would be equal to 450

billion miles traveled on our roadways without generating any CO2

emissions. That's 1,500 CO2-free miles for every man, woman and child in

the United States each year.



    Sample EcoDriving practices include:



    -- Not tailgating, knowing the proper way to accelerate and brake,

using synchronized traffic lights to a driver's advantage, driving at the

optimum highway speed, understanding when to use air conditioning and much

more.



    Sample maintenance practices include:



    -- Knowing which motor oil to use, understanding the importance of

proper tire pressure and what affects tire pressure, understanding

aerodynamics and much more.



    In conjunction with the unveiling of EcoDriving, the National

Automobile Dealers Association announced that September will be free "Green

Check-up Month" nationwide.



    "Consumers who are better aware of the operations of their vehicle will

be rewarded by saving money at the gas pump and reducing CO2 emissions.

Working together, we can substantially reduce CO2 emissions and fuel use,

one EcoDriver at a time," said McCurdy.



    The Alliance's EcoDriving consumer awareness campaign centers on an

interactive website, http://www.EcoDrivingUSA.com, to help drivers learn practical

tips to improving their mileage and reducing their carbon footprint. The

site includes a video guide to EcoDriving, an "EcoCalculator" to determine

benefits for individuals or states, a Virtual Road Test and a variety of

educational tools.



    As part of their national campaign, automakers pledged to reach out to

government, business, educators and more. Alliance members hope to engage

all 50 states, as well as major consumer organizations, in EcoDriving.

"We're all in this together, so there's a role for each one of us to play

in being a part of the solution to these critical issues," added McCurdy.



    "Automakers are aggressively developing and introducing new

technologies, but it takes 15 years or more for these technologies to

become widespread on the road. EcoDriving helps consumers reduce carbon

dioxide emissions today," said McCurdy.



    The Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers is a trade association of 10

car and light truck manufacturers including BMW Group, Chrysler, Ford Motor

Company, General Motors, Mazda, Mercedes-Benz, Mitsubishi Motors, Porsche,

Toyota and Volkswagen. For more information, visit the Alliance website at

http://www.autoalliance.org.



    Contact: Wade Newton



    (202) 326-5571