Ecopoints

1) Points system for controlling transit of heavy lorries through Austria, replacing transit permits, and based on NOx emission of vehicle -older vehicles needing more points than environmentally-friendly (‘greener’) newer vehicles.

Economies of scale

1) Economic theory which appears to dictate that ‘big’ is economically better (ie bulk buying gives lower cost per unit; large firms can operate more efficiently than small ones; two lorries can be operated more economically than just one, etc).Where a firm has a high proportion of direct costs any increase in output that can be sold so as to achieve a satisfactory return will have the effect of lowering unit costs.

Economic order quantity (EOQ)

1) In fixed order quantity systems, the size of an order that minimizes the total inventory cost, under a given set of circumstances, obtained by trade-off analysis between the cost of placing an order and the cost of holding stock. (Source: ILT Supply-Chain Inventory Management SIG)

Ecomatic

1) A product of Volkswagen (on its Golf vans) which switches the vehicle engine off when the accelerator is lifted to improve fuel consumption thus making urban driving more economical and quieter.

ECMT

1) European Conference of Ministers of Transport. An intergovernmental organization established by protocol in 1953. It is actually a forum comprising transport ministers from all EU member states who cooperate on (mainly inland) policy concerned with improving transport utilization and ensuring the rational development of European transport systems of national importance.

ECM

1) Electronic control module – as used in dual fuel (diesel/natural gas) engines to regulate the relative proportions of each fuel.