Choosing a fuel-efficient car is one good step toward reducing your monthly fuel
bill, but it is not the only step.
inthinc Technology Solutions Inc., a global provider of telematics, fleet
management and driver safety technologies, has examined customer data, collected
from 500 fleets and nearly 50,000 vehicles, to validate suggested solutions on
how to save money on fuel costs.
While the validated suggestions are aimed at fleets, they are just as valid
for nearly any driver sharing the road. To some of you, these may seem obvious.
Or, if you have an EV or car with stop/start technology, you can skip #3.
Otherwise – and as a word to the wise – following are solutions inthinc
is offering to save money at the fuel pump, or propulsion energy, as the case
may be:
According to the U.S. Department of Energy, vehicles that honor the speed
limit maintain a higher miles per gallon ratio. Each five mph increment driven
over 60 mph is the equivalent of $0.31 per gallon of gas.
Not only does frequent braking and accelerating create wear and tear on
vehicles, it also significantly decreases MPG. A 2011 study, by the University
of Michigan Transportation Research Institute (UMTRI), has shown that by
observing the speeding limit and avoiding hard braking and accelerating, drivers
can improve MPG by as much as 25 percent.
One hour of idle time represents 80 miles of engine wear and approximately
one gallon of fuel. By turning off the engine when not driving, fuel is
conserved, engine wear is limited and carbon emissions are reduced.
Checking tire pressure regularly and replacing oil on time will ensure
optimal performance. Studies have shown that properly inflated tires can gain up
to three percent more miles and regular oil tune-ups will net an additional four
percent.
By mapping routes ahead of time, drivers can look for ways to cut down on the
amount of travel time. Plan trips around rush-hour traffic and check local maps
for quicker and flatter surface routes.
We realize this is not comprehensive list, but it's a step in the right
direction. We may post similar articles from time to time as the occasion
arises.
Fuel (or electric) savings recommendations are more often pitched based on an
appeal to a consumer's desire to save money. A broader reason is to preserve a
finite or limited resource, pollute less, and all those more noble ideals that,
well, have given rise to the whole generally termed "green car" movement in all
its variations.
What do you think? Do you have tips you could add? Thoughts to add to the
subject?
