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Do effects of theoretical training and rewards for energy-efficient behavior persist over time and interact? A natural field experiment on eco-driving in a company fleet

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  • Schall, Dominik L.
  • Wolf, Menas
  • Mohnen, Alwine
Abstract
Increasing energy efficiency is a cornerstone of policy initiatives to tackle climate change and increase corporate sustainability. Convincing people to drive more fuel-efficiently (“eco-driving”) is often an integral part of these approaches, especially in the transport sector. But there is a lack of studies on the long-term persistence and potential interaction of the effects of incentives and training on energy conservation behavior in general and eco-driving behavior in particular. We address this gap with a twelve months long natural field experiment in a logistics company to analyze the time-dependent and potentially interacting effects of rewards and theoretical training for eco-driving on fuel consumption in a real-world setting. We find an immediate reduction of fuel consumption following the introduction of a non-monetary reward and an attenuation of this effect over time. Theoretical eco-driving training shows no effect, neither short-term nor long-term, highlighting the often neglected necessity to include practical training elements. Contrary to common assumptions, the interaction of incentives and theoretical training does not show an additional reduction effect. Our results demonstrate the difficulty of changing engrained behavior and habits, and underline the need for a careful selection and combination of interventions. Policy implications for public and private actors are discussed.

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  • Schall, Dominik L. & Wolf, Menas & Mohnen, Alwine, 2016. "Do effects of theoretical training and rewards for energy-efficient behavior persist over time and interact? A natural field experiment on eco-driving in a company fleet," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 97(C), pages 291-300.
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:enepol:v:97:y:2016:i:c:p:291-300
    DOI: 10.1016/j.enpol.2016.07.008
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    3. Ali Keyvanfar & Arezou Shafaghat & Nasiru Zakari Muhammad & M. Salim Ferwati, 2018. "Driving Behaviour and Sustainable Mobility—Policies and Approaches Revisited," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(4), pages 1-27, April.
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    5. Huang, Yuhan & Ng, Elvin C.Y. & Zhou, John L. & Surawski, Nic C. & Chan, Edward F.C. & Hong, Guang, 2018. "Eco-driving technology for sustainable road transport: A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 93(C), pages 596-609.
    6. Ran Tu & Junshi Xu & Tiezhu Li & Haibo Chen, 2022. "Effective and Acceptable Eco-Driving Guidance for Human-Driving Vehicles: A Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(12), pages 1-14, June.
    7. Chiara Sotis & Miriam Allena & Renny Reyes & Alessandro Romano, 2021. "COVID-19 Vaccine Passport and International Traveling: The Combined Effect of Two Nudges on Americans’ Support for the Pass," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(16), pages 1-17, August.
    8. Drews, Stefan & Exadaktylos, Filippos & van den Bergh, Jeroen C.J.M., 2020. "Assessing synergy of incentives and nudges in the energy policy mix," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 144(C).
    9. Björn Hildebrandt & Andre Hanelt & Sebastian Firk, 2018. "Sharing Yet Caring," Business & Information Systems Engineering: The International Journal of WIRTSCHAFTSINFORMATIK, Springer;Gesellschaft für Informatik e.V. (GI), vol. 60(3), pages 227-241, June.
    10. Yang Wang & Alessandra Boggio-Marzet, 2018. "Evaluation of Eco-Driving Training for Fuel Efficiency and Emissions Reduction According to Road Type," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(11), pages 1-16, October.
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    12. Alzaghrini, Nadine & Milovanoff, Alexandre & Roy, Riddhiman & Abdul-Manan, Amir F.N. & McKechnie, Jon & Posen, I. Daniel & MacLean, Heather L., 2024. "Closing the GHG mitigation gap with measures targeting conventional gasoline light-duty vehicles – A scenario-based analysis of the U.S. fleet," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 359(C).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Eco-driving; Fuel saving; Training; Incentive; Effect persistence;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C93 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Design of Experiments - - - Field Experiments
    • D12 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior - - - Consumer Economics: Empirical Analysis
    • Q48 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Energy - - - Government Policy
    • Q57 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Ecological Economics
    • R49 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - Transportation Economics - - - Other

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