Driving habits, the type of vehicle and the conditions under which you are driving affect the environmental performance of the vehicle. With that in mind, here are our top tricks for making your car greener and saving money on gasoline.
Steps
Step 1. Accelerate smoothly, brake gradually
“Stay calm with the accelerator” is the main rule to save a lot of fuel. Drive some distance away from the car in front to avoid unnecessary acceleration and frequent and repetitive braking, which would end up wasting fuel and ruining the brakes. When researchers from Consumer Report magazine increased the speed of a car in a test, a 4-cylinder Camry, from 88 to 104 km / h, the average extra-urban fuel consumption dropped from 17 to 14.88 km / l. BONUS: it is also much safer!
Step 2. Drive in high gears
An engine works most efficiently between 1500 and 2500 rpm (lower in diesels). To keep these revolutions low, shift gears as soon as possible and before the revolutions reach 2500 revolutions per minute. Automatic transmissions will shift faster and gently if you let go of the throttle slightly once the car accelerates.
Step 3. Obey the speed limits
This tip saves fuel… and lives. High speeds equate to high fuel consumption. At 110 km / h the car will use up to 25% more fuel than if it went at 90 km / h.
Step 4. Drive defensively, NOT aggressively
Avoid fast starts after traffic lights (not a two-car race). Don't zigzag in and out of traffic like you're playing Grand Theft Auto. Accelerating unnecessarily and braking hard won't really save you a lot of time. What it will do is use more fuel and increase the deterioration of parts of the car such as tires and brake pads.
Step 5. Keep your tires at optimum pressure and properly aligned
Low pressure tires increase rolling resistance, use more fuel and wear faster. Keeping the tires inflated to the maximum recommended pressure (printed on the instruction booklet) can reduce fuel consumption by 3-4% and extend tire life. Make sure the wheels are aligned correctly to reduce fuel consumption, extend tire life and improve road holding. Spinning the tires at the intervals they were designed for will wear them evenly and last longer. According to Consumer Reports, the rolling resistance of a tire “can add or subtract a consumption of 0.43-0.85 km / l”. Note: Some tires require low rolling resistance and high fuel economy, such as Michelin's Energy MXV4s and Continental's ContiPremierContacts.
Step 6. Don't keep the car idle
Modern engines do NOT need to be heated. Running the engine at idle for more than 30 seconds will create excess emissions and wasted fuel. Switch off the engine whenever the car is stationary for a longer period of time. By switching off the engine, even for a few minutes, you will save more than the fuel lost in the combustion involved in restarting the engine. Note: the increase in wear that occurs by doing this is negligible.
Step 7. Do not use the roof rack as an attic
Lighter cars have lower fuel consumption. Piling things on top of the car reduces aerodynamics and increases fuel consumption by up to 5%. Avoid using the roof rack regularly, as it alters the vehicle's center of gravity and dramatically changes driving dynamics. Note: The more a vehicle carries, the more fuel it consumes. An extra weight of 50 kg can increase fuel costs by 2%. So… remove the sandbags and summer gear from the trunk. Keep the spare wheel and the emergency kit!
Step 8. Do not drive at high speed with the windows open
The open windows reduce the aerodynamics of the vehicle on the motorway, which increases fuel consumption. Having additional parts on the outside of the vehicle such as a roof rack or spoiler, or simply having the windows open, will increase air resistance and fuel consumption by up to 20%. Note: Keeping the air conditioning running will consume up to 10% extra fuel. However, at speeds above 80 km / h, using air conditioning will be better than even having a single window open for fuel consumption.
Step 9. Use the foldable reflective curtains when parking
Reflective curtains keep the cabin temperature low while a vehicle is parked, relieving air conditioning when you return. Extreme summer heat can cause more air pollutants (volatile organic compounds), plastics and other components to be released from the upholstery. Hey… Reflecting the sun can be a really good idea for your health!
Step 10. Tune the engine
An engine that runs cleanly will not only use less fuel, but will inject fewer emissions from the tailpipe. Keep your car tuning and oil changes regular. A properly tuned engine will run more efficiently and waste less fuel.
Step 11. Replace the air filters
The vehicle maintenance book will tell you how often you need to do this.
Step 12. Use high quality oil
Always use oils that match the viscosity grade recommended in the maintenance manual. Use popular brands, despite the cost, because not doing it this way could cost you a lot more in the long run.
Step 13. Plug the car into power
After adding an AKA kit to convert the car with ruggedized batteries and extra computing power, a Prius or Escape Hybrid can be plugged into a home power outlet. These can operate on electricity alone for up to 65 km, once fully charged. And that's more than enough for the average commuter worker. The kit from Massachusetts-based Hmingham costs around $ 10,000.
Step 14. Combine the commissions
Run as many errands as possible on a single car trip to save both time and fuel. The engine will be cold for the first two minutes of each car trip, so it will use more fuel during this time. Don't waste gas driving to shops that are closed, or getting lost. Plot the routes before you leave or use the GPS system and check online the time it will take.
Step 15. Save money
Don't Drive: The latest update for green cars might just be going without a car, or rather, not driving anywhere by default. If you want to try to go completely without the car, car-sharing companies like Zipcar (this is American, in Italy there is not yet) will let you use a car only when you need it. Users can pay monthly, register online, swipe their cards and then simply drive away. Petrol, insurance and deodorants included.
Advice
- Use cruise control whenever possible.
- This crisis is hitting everyone hard. High gasoline prices don't help. Drivers are looking for ways to save on fuel. Driving habits, the type of vehicle and the conditions under which you are driving affect the environmental performance of the vehicle. With that in mind, here are our top tricks for making your car greener and saving money on gasoline. Follow these green driving tips for better fuel economy… and better car karma!
