What does it mean when the ECO light appears on the car?

[AvaRose]

When the ECO indicator appears on the dashboard, it indicates that the vehicle's economy mode has been activated. ECO is an English abbreviation derived from the combination of Ecology (environmental protection), Conservation (energy saving), and Optimization (power). The ECO mode is further divided into active ECO driving mode and non-active ECO driving mode. ECO mode can be categorized into active and non-active types, with the difference being that the active type has a dedicated button, allowing the driver to choose whether to activate it. When the driver presses the ECO mode switch, the dashboard indicator light will illuminate, and the vehicle will automatically adjust settings such as throttle opening, transmission shift logic, and air conditioning output power. The non-active ECO mode does not have a dedicated button; when the ECO indicator light on the dashboard turns on, it serves merely as a reminder. The ECO system will automatically evaluate your driving behavior, and if your current driving operation achieves the optimal fuel supply, the dashboard will simultaneously display the ECO indicator light. Most vehicles use the active ECO driving mode, meaning they have a dedicated switch button. Therefore, during daily driving, we can activate the ECO mode. However, it is unnecessary to enable ECO mode when driving at speeds exceeding 120 km/h, during idle parking, in N/P gear, or in manual mode, especially when climbing hills. In such scenarios, activating ECO mode would not only fail to demonstrate its fuel-saving characteristics but also negatively impact the vehicle's power performance. Additionally, the ECO mode typically becomes ineffective under the following conditions: When the vehicle speed exceeds 120 km/h, the system prioritizes speed, causing the ECO mode to automatically deactivate. During idle parking or when in N/P gear or manual mode, the ECO mode may also become ineffective. When high torque output is required, such as when climbing a hill, the engine control unit will prioritize ensuring sufficient power to drive the vehicle, and the ECO mode will not function in such cases.