What does the ECO light on a car mean?

[StMalachi]

When the ECO indicator light on the vehicle's dashboard illuminates, it indicates that the car's economy mode has been activated. ECO is an English abbreviation formed from the words 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. The 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 activate it. When the driver presses the ECO mode switch, the dashboard indicator light immediately turns on, and the vehicle automatically begins adjusting 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 dashboard ECO indicator light turns on, it serves merely as a reminder function. The ECO system automatically evaluates your driving behavior. If your current driving operation achieves the optimal fuel supply, the dashboard will simultaneously display the ECO indicator light. Most cars use the active ECO driving mode, meaning they have their own switch button. Therefore, during daily driving, we can generally 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. Doing so would not only fail to demonstrate the fuel-saving characteristics of ECO mode but also negatively impact the vehicle's power performance. Additionally, the ECO mode typically becomes ineffective under the following circumstances: When the vehicle speed exceeds 120 kilometers per hour, the car prioritizes speed, and the ECO mode automatically deactivates. During idle parking or when in N/P gear or manual mode, the ECO mode may also become ineffective. When a 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 cases either.