What does it mean when the eco light in a car is on?

[DeRiver]

When the eco indicator light on the dashboard is illuminated, it indicates that the vehicle's economy mode has been activated. ECO stands for the car's economical driving mode function, and it is an English abbreviation derived from 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 is categorized into active and non-active types. The difference lies in the fact that the active type has its own dedicated button, allowing the driver to choose whether to enable 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. Non-active eco mode does not have a dedicated button. When the dashboard eco indicator light is on, it serves merely as a reminder function. The eco system automatically evaluates your driving behavior, and if your current driving operation achieves the optimal fuel supply, the dashboard will display the eco indicator light accordingly. Most cars use the active eco driving mode, which means they have a dedicated switch button. Therefore, the eco mode can be enabled during daily driving. However, it is unnecessary to activate 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 these situations, the eco mode may not effectively demonstrate its fuel-saving characteristics and could even affect the vehicle's power. Additionally, the eco mode typically becomes ineffective under the following conditions: When the vehicle speed exceeds 120 kilometers per hour, 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 prioritizes ensuring sufficient power to drive the vehicle, and the eco mode will not function in such scenarios.