Efficiency. It’s a bit of a buzzword at the moment, with manufacturers all pitching against one another to make their cars as clean and as efficient as possible.
However, there are ways to drive more efficiently too, without having to buy a new car. A few simple tips and tricks are all it takes to help save fuel, and help save the environment too.
Prepare your car for the journey
Remove roof racks, top boxes – and make sure your tyres are correctly inflated
Realistically you should be checking your car before you set off anyway, but giving your vehicle a once-over can help when it comes to efficiency. The tyres are the crucial part of this. Ensuring that they’re inflated to the right pressure makes a world of difference with regards to fuel economy, as well as helping during cornering. It increases wet-braking efficiency, too.
If your car has a roof rack or top box then make sure these are removed (providing you’re not planning on using it, of course), and plan out your journey beforehand – motorways and A roads are routes where you can achieve a more consistent speed, therefore using less fuel.
Watch acceleration and braking
Smooth pressure on throttle and brakes make for more efficient progress
Smooth acceleration and braking is crucial being efficient. Hard on the gas and the engine has to work hard too, in turn increasing consumption and emissions. Bringing the car to a slow and steady stop helps too.
Not only that, but it’ll reduce the wear and tear on components on your car – so everybody wins.
Turn off unused electronics
Additional systems, like air conditioning, drain power and reduce efficiency
Electronic systems sap energy from a car, so switching them off helps drastically when it comes to overall fuel consumption and efficiency. Air conditioning is a particularly energy-heavy system so if you can, switch it off.
Stick to the speed limit
Keeping to speed limits reduce engine revs, and lower consumption
Speed limits are there for safety reason, but they help when it comes to overall vehicle efficiency too. Keeping to the limits leaves your car at lower revs (in most vehicles) and it’ll protect your licence too!
Avoid driving when possible
Taking alternative means of transport is the ultimate way of helping efficiency
It sounds simple, but avoiding driving and taking alternative forms of transport is the only way to really optimise your efficiency. Cycling, walking or taking public transport lowers emissions, and can sometimes be cheaper or quicker than getting behind the wheel, too.