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The role of vehicle driver behavior has been ignored in prior energy and environmental policy making. Laboratory procedures that produce the fuel economy estimates posted on every new car sold in the US are designed to preclude the effects of differences between drivers. Yet, every vehicle states the caveat, ''Actual results will vary for many reasons, including driving conditions and how you drive and maintain your vehicle." Eco-driving as means of strategically taking advantage of this variability has been inconsistently defined in conceptual analyses and variously operationalized in empirical analyses. The present research clarifies, synthesizes, and expands on prior definitions of eco-driving to develop a comprehensive and precise definition and typology of eco-driving behaviors. The resultant typology includes six mutually exclusive classes of behavior: driving, cabin comfort, trip planning, load management, fueling, and maintenance. This typology establishes a basis for systematic research to determine energy and climate impacts and develop effective policies and interventions for different types of eco-driving.

The growing market for plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs) features new models of battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) with varying battery sizes and electric driving ranges. How are the various models being used in the real world? A common assumption in PEV impact analysis is that PEV owners will maximize their vehicle's utility by appropriately sizing the battery to their driving needs and by charging their vehicle as much as possible to recover the cost of the vehicle purchase. On the basis of these assumptions, a high correlation between PHEV owner use of the vehicle and the number of plug-in events is expected, and drivers of PHEVs with a small battery are expected to plug in more than do owners of vehicles with a larger battery and similar driving patterns. The assumptions presented are examined through a survey of more than 3,500 PEV owners conducted in California in May and June 2013. The online survey included extensive data on driving and charging behavior using web map questions. Owners of all PEV models on the market, including more than 600 Volts and 800 Prius Plug-Ins, were surveyed. The results show that small-battery PHEV electric vehicle miles traveled are lower than longer-range PHEV or BEV electric vehicle miles traveled not only because of battery size but also because of public charging availability and charging behavior. Higher electric-range PHEV and BEV drivers charge more often and report more charging opportunities in areas where smaller-battery PHEVs could not find chargers.

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