Improved ecodriving using instantaneous consumption displays in an electric vehicle driving simulator: the role of energy dynamics awareness

Abstract Supporting drivers in reducing energy consumption is essential for sustainable mobility. In electric vehicles, the invisibility and volatility of energy make it difficult for drivers to understand energy dynamics, hindering optimal energy-efficient action regulation. The present study examined whether instantaneous consumption displays differing in the extent and quality of task-relevant energy information improve drivers’ operational ecodriving and energy-specific situation awareness (EnDynA) over repeated trials. In a driving simulator experiment with N = 77 participants, participants completed eight trials in one of two display groups (trace, bar) or a control group (no display). We assessed their ecodriving (average consumption) and EnDynA, specifically, their experienced (self-rating scale) and actual (consumption estimate accuracy) EnDynA. Across groups, we observed improvements in experienced EnDynA, consumption estimate accuracy, and energy efficiency. The information provision affected improvements in experienced EnDynA and ecodriving but not consumption estimate accuracy. Experienced EnDynA negatively correlated with energy consumption, highlighting its relevance in ecodriving.