Saving fuel can ultimately save you money
Saving fuel can ultimately save you money
After fuel prices hit a record high last month, many drivers are looking for useful tips to make sure they're getting the most out of their tanks.
The good news is that there are several things you can do to become a more efficient driver when you get behind the wheel.
And with that in mind, we've put together a handy list of tip that could help you improve your driving habits and, ultimately, cut your fuel costs.
If you’re not familiar with the route you need to take, be sure to plan your journey before you take off.
It's estimated that 350,00 tonnes of fuel is wasted each year by drivers who are lost.
You could even go one step further and invest in a safe-to-use in-car sat-nav which will tell you the best route to take and avoid road closures and traffic build-ups.
Believe it or not, moving your car like you're in Formula 1 isn't very efficient for the everyday driver.
Sudden braking and accelerating uses up to 40% more fuel, so staying at a steady speed will save fuel.
Always be aware of your surroundings and avoid aggressively accelerating; it’s advised to gently pick up your speed instead. When it comes to braking, try taking your foot off the accelerator early with the car still in gear.
Keeping a distance of around three seconds between you and the car in front should help avoid sudden braking.
The best way to help improve your fuel consumption is to make sure you change gears as early as possible and use the highest gear.
Drivers are advised to shift up a gear at around 2,000rpm in a diesel vehicle and at 2,400rpm in a petrol vehicle.
Nowadays, a lot of cars will have a 'start-stop' system, which automatically shuts down and restarts the internal combustion engine to reduce the amount of time the engine spends idling. If you have this feature, make sure to use it and you'll reduce fuel consumption and emissions.
However, if this doesn't come as standard in your car and you’re stuck in a queue that looks like it won’t be moving for a few minutes, turn your engine off.
It's common knowledge that the faster you drive, the more fuel you'll burn.
Of course, you should always stick to the speed limits, but the majority of cars run are most efficient at 60mph. Every 5mph above this will lose you six percent of your fuel economy thanks to the car needing more power to overcome the added drag.
It’s quite simple, extra weight means extra fuel to move. It's best to make sure your car - most likely, your boot - only contains the things you need.
Using air conditioning burns more fuel as it adds extra strain to the car's engine. For drivers travelling below motorway speeds, rolling down the window is more economical.
However, do keep in mind that once you hit motorway speeds, opening your windows can cause drag, impacting your fuel consumption.
As well as paying attention to any of your car's vehicle maintenance warnings, it's important to get it serviced regularly.
You'll want to make sure you use the right specification of engine oil, and remember, a poorly tuned engine could cost you up to 50% more fuel.
Furthermore, it's vital that you check your tyres’ pressure regularly before setting off on long journeys and make sure they're in line with your manufacturer guidelines. Around 20% of your fuel consumption is used to overcome the tyre rolling resistance, and it could be even more if they're under-inflated.
With electric cars having a lot less parts than traditional cars, it's believed maintenance costs can be as much as 50% less.
A regular car can contain hundreds of working parts, which means there’s lots that can go wrong and parts that need replacing over time.
In comparison, with no oil to change, no engine to manage and fewer parts to wear down, electric cars are cost-efficient and easier to maintain.
In terms of charging costs, when using rapid charging points, some electric vehicles can, on average, be charged for 30 minutes and give you a range of 100 miles, while costing roughly £6.50.
