Driving Better Saves Money
In order to save money by using less fuel in your car (which is also good for the planet), EcoExpert has 10 best tips for changing the way you drive.
In my last blog I looked at interesting ways of reducing weight (which saves fuel) and how to optimise your tyres for the best fuel efficiency.
Here are the next two tips:
3. Change How You Drive
One of the best ways to improve your fuel economy is to change the way you drive. Speeding, accelerating and braking hard can deplete efficiency by a staggering 33 percent, according to fueleconomy.gov.
Accelerate slowly from stops, allowing the car’s momentum to help it accelerate.
Anticipate road conditions and drive smoothly, avoiding sharp acceleration and heavy braking. This saves fuel (money) – and as an added bonus, it also reduces accident rates.
| HypermilersThere’s green driving, and then there’s really green driving. Hypermilers are people who strive for incredible feats of fuel economy by changing the way they drive. By modifying how they stop, start and cruise on the highway, some are even able to get 75 miles per gallon! |
Once the car is in motion, try to preserve that momentum by avoiding situations where it can be lost.
Say you’re driving down the road and see a traffic light up ahead turn from yellow to red. Rather than keep your foot on the gas and brake at the last second, take your foot off the accelerator and slowly approach the light.
Plus, you might not even have to come to a full stop before the light turns green again, meaning that your car will have to overcome much less inertia to get going.
4. Monitor Your Speed
The speed at which you drive on the highway, where stopping and starting aren’t likely to be a problem, also impacts your fuel efficiency.
The most efficient speed depends upon the car in question but is typically around 55 – 65mph / 88-105kph. Faster speeds will greatly increase your fuel consumption.
So, on your next road trip, slow down.
You’ll make up the time by not having to stop for fuel as often.
Read on for ExoExpert advice on alternative fuels and more ways of saving money.
Great advice! Funny how many people I see wait til the last moment to brake! Also how people take off from a dead stop as if they are in a drag race! Great points if most would drive that way>
75 miles per gallon beats me, that’s impressive! When I see a red light ahead I flick the car into neutral. My wife and I have efficient cars and always try to save gas. The one thing I don’t understand is why they don’t make a light work truck in a hybrid. Air conditioning, pest control, plumbers, and a million other small business owners would these vehicles. Naomi and I have 2 Prius by Toyota but we have 11 Ford Rangers. I would trade them all to save the mileage.
Have you looked at these options – they might be suitable, but of course it depends upon your specific needs: the Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra are both hybrids offering 21 combined MPG. The Ford Transit Connect is completely electric. Or the Ford F-150 and Chevvy Silverado E85 can use Ethanol (the Ford is also flex-fuel). They are all available in the US as far as I know, and foreign manufacturers are bringing out other new models for exactly the reasons you cite – small businesses need them! Hope this helps!
I will check out the Ford Transit. That sounds great! The Silverado and Sierra are a bit too large for my needs but 21 MPG is a good start. The thing is, we add ladder racks and tool boxes so the starting MPG is way better than the actual MPG when all is said and done.
There are days when I may travel as much as 250 miles in the Las Vegas valley, one thing I always keep my mind on is my driving habits and a lot of the tips you mention.
Thanks!
I’m a huge fan of slowing down for an approaching red traffic light, but I try and only use this tactic in the left lane (passing lane) in the US as it allows the vehicles in the right lane to continue unimpeded as they can make a turn on red here in the States.
LOL!
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