Ten Driving Tips For Saving Fuel And Funds
Whether driving on pure gas or a plug-in vehicle, there are more ways to save than super-slow driving. With gas prices predicted to rise again past the $2/litre threshold in 2023, where Canadian diesel prices have stubbornly remained for a prolonged period, it’s worth looking at any way for drivers to save money, especially with inflation eating away at savings and raising prices everywhere. But there can be different strategies and driving techniques depending on whether you’re driving a traditional internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicle or an Electric Vehicle (EV) of any type, whether plug-in hybrid (PHEV) or a battery electric (BEV) that uses electrons only. Yes, traditional fuel-saving tips such as ‘accelerate slowly’ and ‘avoid exceeding the speed limit’ will help, but newer vehicle technologies bring different efficiency strategies that may or may not be the same depending on what vehicle you’re driving. Here then are 10 tips and strategies that go beyond super-conservative driving techniques that will help save drivers money: the first five no matter which fuel used, while the next five pertain more to plug-in vehicles specifically.
1 Look far ahead to smooth out traffic flows. This key driving and safety strategy helps drivers avoid unnecessary and efficiency-hurting full vehicle stops, especially in city driving. You’re less likely to ac‑ celerate briskly (and inefficiently) when you see a red light or stopped traffic ahead, while seeing a person approaching a crosswalk in the distance can help driv‑ ers slow down and avoid unneeded stops in the first place. 2 Be wary of traffic and construction patterns. Avoid rush hour if possible, streets clogged with long-term construction, and even a quick check of your route before setting out through various online apps can help you save on fuel and aggravation. 3 Car care can bring savings. It’s not only oil chan‑ ges and tune-ups that can increase fuel effi‑ ciency, but basic items you can do yourself such as keeping up tire inflation levels, removing roof and bike racks when not in use, and reducing heavy items in the trunk will help as well. 4 Avoid cruise control on hills. It’s true that cruise control can help avoid little throttle blips on the highway that over time can add up faster than a con‑ stant electronically-controlled speed. But even a gen‑ tle hill can cause a cruise-controlled vehicle to down‑ shift multiple gears, raising engine revs and fuel use to maintain that speed. A wiser fuel-saving strategy is to increase speed gently (watch your speed, be gen‑ tle and within speed limits) on any downhill portion if possible before the road rises, then click off cruise right around the set speed. 5 Consider your driving patterns. Short-term, this means considering your daily schedule to com‑ bine trips, saving time and fuel. Especially in cold‑ er temperatures, all vehicles are more efficient once warmed up. Longer-term, it may mean considering where you do most of your driving, and which vehicle type will cost you the least to drive overall.
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