Ameer Randolph
With fluctuating fuel prices and concerns about climate change, many people are looking for ways to reduce their fuel consumption. Driving habits have the single biggest effect on a vehicle's fuel efficiency, and there are many simple changes that can be made to save fuel.
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What You'll Learn
- Avoid aggressive driving behaviour, such as speeding, rapid acceleration and hard braking
- Remove unnecessary items from your car to reduce weight and improve aerodynamics
- Keep tyres properly inflated and choose higher economy-rated tyres when replacing them
- Plan your route to avoid congestion, junctions, traffic lights and other obstacles that require slowing down and accelerating
- Drive at a moderate speed, typically between 50-60 mph, to balance progress and fuel economy
Avoid aggressive driving behaviour, such as speeding, rapid acceleration and hard braking
Aggressive driving behaviour, such as speeding, rapid acceleration, and hard braking, can significantly impact your fuel economy. Here are some tips to avoid aggressive driving and improve your fuel efficiency:
Speeding
Driving at high speeds can dramatically reduce your fuel economy, especially if you are driving a large or heavy vehicle with a small engine. Most cars, vans, pickup trucks, and SUVs are most fuel-efficient when travelling between 50 and 80 kilometres per hour. Above this speed range, vehicles use more fuel as speed increases. For example, a vehicle travelling at 120 kilometres per hour uses about 20% more fuel than at 100 kilometres per hour. Maintaining a moderate speed can help you save fuel and money.
Rapid Acceleration
Accelerating rapidly can also increase fuel consumption. When you accelerate quickly, your vehicle uses more fuel to gain speed. Instead, aim for a smooth and gradual acceleration. Plan your route to minimise the number of times you need to slow down and accelerate, such as avoiding congested areas, junctions, or traffic lights. Look ahead and anticipate traffic conditions so you can adjust your speed gradually. This will help you conserve fuel and maintain a steady pace.
Hard Braking
Hard braking wastes your forward momentum and requires more fuel to accelerate again. Instead of slamming on the brakes, anticipate traffic flow and slow down gradually. Maintaining a safe distance from the vehicle in front of you will help you avoid sudden stops. Additionally, when approaching a red light or a hill, start slowing down early instead of braking suddenly. This will help you reduce fuel consumption and improve overall fuel efficiency.
By avoiding aggressive driving behaviours and adopting a smoother driving style, you can improve your fuel economy, reduce emissions, and save money on fuel costs.
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Remove unnecessary items from your car to reduce weight and improve aerodynamics
The weight of your vehicle has a significant impact on fuel efficiency. The heavier the vehicle, the more fuel it consumes. Therefore, it is essential to remove unnecessary items from your car to reduce weight and improve fuel efficiency.
Start by removing any unnecessary items from your boot, trunk, or passenger seats. Every extra 50 kg of weight in your car can increase fuel consumption by about 2%. This includes items such as salt, sand, sports equipment, and other miscellaneous items that may be taking up space. If you're using your car alone, consider removing the items from the passenger seats as well.
Another way to reduce weight is to avoid using rooftop luggage carriers or roof racks if possible. Transporting items on top of your car increases aerodynamic drag, which can reduce fuel economy by as much as 20% on the highway. Instead, try to fit all your items inside the car, ensuring they are securely placed to avoid obstructing your view or causing a safety hazard.
In addition to removing unnecessary items, you can also focus on driving habits that improve fuel efficiency. Planning your route to avoid congestion, junctions, interchanges, and traffic lights can help maintain a constant speed and reduce the need for frequent acceleration and deceleration. Maintaining a speed between 50 and 80 km/h (or 50-60 mph) is generally the most fuel-efficient, as speeds above this range can dramatically increase fuel consumption.
By removing unnecessary items from your car and adopting fuel-efficient driving habits, you can significantly improve your vehicle's fuel efficiency and reduce your environmental impact. Remember to consider the size and type of your vehicle, as well as the weight and placement of the items you carry, to make informed decisions about what to remove and how to optimize your driving for better fuel economy.
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Keep tyres properly inflated and choose higher economy-rated tyres when replacing them
Tyres account for up to 20% of a vehicle's fuel consumption, so it is important to keep them properly inflated and to choose highly-rated fuel-efficient tyres when replacing them.
Keep Tyres Properly Inflated
Maintaining the correct tyre pressure can improve fuel efficiency by up to 3% and save you money on fuel costs. Properly inflated tyres are also safer and last longer. Under-inflated tyres can lower gas mileage and increase rolling resistance, which reduces fuel efficiency. Over-inflated tyres, on the other hand, can become stiff, leading to a harsher ride and reduced traction.
You can check your tyre pressure using a tyre pressure gauge. Remove the valve cap from the tyre, press the gauge onto the valve stem, and compare the reading to the manufacturer's recommended pressure, which can usually be found on a sticker in the driver's side door jamb or the glove box, as well as in the owner's manual. If the pressure is too low, use an air compressor to inflate the tyre to the recommended pressure. If the pressure is too high, release some air until the correct pressure is reached.
Choose Higher Economy-Rated Tyres
When replacing your tyres, choosing a highly-rated fuel-efficient tyre will provide more miles from a tank of fuel and lower your CO2 emissions. The EU Tyre Label provides a fuel efficiency rating for each tyre, ranging from class A (the best fuel economy) to class E (the least fuel-efficient). Tyres with lower rolling resistance are designed to use less energy to turn, meaning less fuel is needed to propel the vehicle forwards.
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Plan your route to avoid congestion, junctions, traffic lights and other obstacles that require slowing down and accelerating
Planning your route is an effective way to improve fuel efficiency. Avoiding congestion, junctions, traffic lights, and other obstacles that require slowing down and accelerating can help you maintain a constant speed and reduce fuel consumption. Here are some detailed instructions to help you plan your route:
Firstly, identify the areas or roads that are prone to congestion, heavy traffic, or frequent stops. These areas may include city centres, main roads during rush hours, or roads with multiple traffic lights or intersections. Try to find alternative routes that are less congested and have smoother traffic flow. Using tools like GPS navigation systems or traffic apps can provide real-time traffic updates and suggest optimal routes to help you avoid these congested areas.
Secondly, anticipate potential obstacles and road conditions that may require you to slow down or stop. Look ahead and pay attention to the behaviour of the traffic and pedestrians around you. This advanced awareness will enable you to make gradual adjustments to your speed, avoiding sudden braking or rapid acceleration. A steady driving pace will help you conserve fuel.
Thirdly, consider the time of day and plan your route to avoid peak traffic hours. Usually, the morning and evening rush hours are when roads are most congested. Adjusting your commute time, even by half an hour, can make a significant difference in the amount of traffic you encounter. Additionally, plan your route to include as few stops as possible. Consolidating your errands or deliveries into one trip can reduce the number of starts and stops, improving your overall fuel efficiency.
Finally, if possible, opt for routes with higher speed limits, such as highways or motorways, especially if you are driving a large or heavy vehicle. While higher speeds do consume more fuel, maintaining a constant speed on these roads can be more fuel-efficient than frequent acceleration and deceleration in congested areas. However, be mindful that driving at extremely high speeds can also reduce fuel economy, so aim for a balance between making good progress and maintaining fuel efficiency.
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Drive at a moderate speed, typically between 50-60 mph, to balance progress and fuel economy
Driving at moderate speeds is one of the most effective ways to improve fuel efficiency. While each vehicle is different, most cars, vans, pickup trucks and SUVs are typically most fuel-efficient when travelling between 30 and 60 mph.
According to an Oak Ridge National Laboratory study of 74 different vehicles, the average fuel economy decrease from 50 to 60 mph was 12.4%. This means that driving at 60 mph instead of 50 mph is like paying an additional $0.22 per gallon for gas. Driving at 70 mph instead of 60 mph will further reduce fuel efficiency by about 14%.
Therefore, driving at moderate speeds between 50 and 60 mph can help you balance progress on your journey and maintain good fuel economy. Driving at these speeds is especially important on highways, where higher speeds can dramatically reduce fuel economy due to increased aerodynamic drag. For example, a vehicle travelling at 120 km/h (around 75 mph) uses about 20% more fuel than at 100 km/h (around 62 mph).
To maintain a moderate speed, it is important to plan your journey and anticipate road conditions. This includes looking ahead to spot upcoming obstacles or changes in traffic behaviour, so you can slow down gradually and accelerate less frequently. Maintaining a steady speed and avoiding hard acceleration will help you improve your fuel economy.
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Frequently asked questions
Driving less is the best way to reduce fuel consumption. If you can, walk, bike, carpool, or use public transport. If you do need to drive, try to drive smoothly and avoid rapid acceleration and hard braking.
Aggressive driving behaviours, such as speeding, rapid acceleration, and hard braking, can lower fuel economy by 15-30% on highways and 10-40% in stop-and-go traffic. Driving at a slower, steadier speed will help you achieve better fuel efficiency.
Remove unnecessary items from your car, as the heavier the vehicle, the more fuel it requires. Keep your tyres properly inflated, as underinflated tyres have increased rolling resistance, which reduces fuel economy. Finally, try to plan your route in advance to avoid heavy traffic and unnecessary stops.
