Car Tech Explained: Eco Mode
Whether you’ve owned your vehicle for a few years or a few weeks, chances are it has some buttons and settings in the cockpit that are unfamiliar. For instance, if it has an “Eco” or “Econ” button, you might know that it helps the engine conserve fuel. But you might not know exactly how it does that. Here’s a brief overview of how eco mode works in most cars.
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How it works in most systems
The first way eco mode works is by modifying transmission behavior. The system executes transmission upshifts earlier than they would typically occur when eco mode is deactivated. This, in turn, reduces the available torque and dulls the throttle response.
Additionally, the system dials back throttle-input requests. Both functions result in slower acceleration when you increase the vehicle’s speed, which in turn, conserves gas.
How it works in some systems
In some vehicles, eco mode can impact the air conditioning system. Per Consumer Guide Automotive’s Tom Appel, a conventional AC system can reduce your vehicle’s efficiency by an average of 5-10 percent. Eco mode puts a damper on the cool air that the AC system emits to boost fuel economy.
If your car has a stop/start system, that could also be linked with eco mode. Traditionally, engine stop/start systems automatically kill the engine when stopped (say, at a red light), and turn it back on when your foot touches the gas pedal. But not everyone wants this feature to be automatic, so some modern vehicles have started including a button which you can use to manually shut off the engine when your vehicle is stopped. You can use this function to boost efficiency in stop-and-go traffic situations. According to Appel, some eco modes automatically increase the number of starts and stops of the engine — which is great for fuel economy, but often an inconvenience for drivers.
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News Sources: NAPA, Consumer Guide Automotive
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