MOTORING NEWS - Tiger Wheel & Tyre and Master Drive encourage motorists to consider some of the key benefits of eco-driving, a driving style that is ecological and economical. It is a combination of safe and defensive driving.
This combination of driving styles encourages drivers to use their vehicle in an environmentally efficient way to improve road safety, reduce fuel consumption and lower greenhouse gas emissions. Obviously, the choice of vehicle makes an enormous difference when it comes to fuel consumption and C0² emissions, but for most of us, adopting an eco-friendly style of driving will have a positive impact both financially and on the environment.
This approach reduces the use and demand for non-renewable fuels, minimises greenhouse gas emissions, helps to improve the overall air quality and reduces noise levels. Other benefits also include an increase in the life of your engine, tyres, brake pads, plus savings in maintenance and fuel bills.
There are several ways to help reduce the amount of CO² being pumped into the atmosphere and also save you time and money. The changes can be small - such as making sure your fuel cap fits securely - to more beneficial changes such as better route planning.
By looking well ahead, scanning the road and easing off the throttle in good time, it is possible to avoid harsh and late braking, which will immediately save fuel. By keeping the car moving, even slowly, this conserves the vehicle's kinetic energy, which in turn saves fuel and reduces CO².
Using the steering, transmission and brakes in a smooth manner rather than harsh, last minute braking allows the car to decelerate using engine braking. This is not only more comfortable for you and your passengers, but more efficient due to lower energy loss. Using the car's momentum when travelling downhill with no throttle input can save a considerable amount of fuel.
Driving with an appropriate distance between you and the car in front is not only safer but has the potential to be more efficient as it avoids sudden and late braking. The better your forward visibility and planning, the more time you will have to anticipate sudden changes.
The faster you go, the greater the fuel consumption and pollution you create. Driving at 120km uses up to 9% more fuel than at 100km and up to 15% more than at 80km. Driving at a steady speed and using cruise control where appropriate during the course of your journey will help to keep fuel consumption to the minimum.
Sudden variations in speed eats up a lot of fuel and gives off increased amounts of emissions.
Braking sharply, accelerating, then braking sharply again for the next traffic bump will consume a lot more fuel than gently riding the bumps at a steady pace.
Being in the correct gear is important if you are trying to save fuel. In some cases cruising in third gear can be 25% less efficient than cruising in a higher gear. Changing into the highest appropriate gear as soon as you can is more preferable than changing up and down through each gear.
Keeping the engine in a low gear longer than necessary consumes larger amounts of fuel.Try to keep your engine running at its most efficient level, for the majority of engines is between
2 000 and 3 000rpm.
As a guide you should shift up a gear when the engine is revving at around 2 500rpm for petrol engines and 2 000rpm in diesel.
Correctly matching engine speed and road speed, plus using the gears in the most cost effective way, will reduce fuel consumption and also reduce wear and tear on the engine and gearbox.
Not only can the way you drive save the environment but the tyres you fit on your car can too. Tiger Wheel & Tyre stocks the BluEarth Yokohama tyre known for its fuel saving performance with advanced technologies. The tyre has 20% less rolling resistance than a standard tyre, lightweight design, an advanced inner liner and nano blend compound.
(Source: Masterdrive)
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