Driving your car more efficiently
Most people just accept their current fuel bills as inevitable. However,
by making a few small changes to your driving style and car maintenance,
you can reduce your fuel bill by as much as 20%! The following tips come from the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA).
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Avoid unnecessary driving
- One third of car trips in New Zealand are 2km or less and two-thirds
are under 6km - many of these trips could be made another way or combined
with longer trips.
- Use the bus, walk, cycle, or carpool and plan ahead where possible.
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Go easy on the pedal
- Less aggressive driving practices can improve fuel economy by up to
30%.
- Accelerate smoothly, avoid heavy braking, avoid congested times, and
keep within the speed limit (driving at 90km per hour instead of 110kph
saves 25% on fuel).
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Maintain your vehicle
- Better car maintenance can result in a combined 10-20% improvement
in fuel consumption.
- Keep tyres correctly inflated, check wheel alignment and regularly maintain
your engine.
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Reduce resistance
- Remove roof racks, close windows and sunroofs when travelling at open-road
speeds and remove unnecessary luggage (remember, it's good for overall
fuel economy to fill up the car with people going to a common destination).
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Turn off the extras
- Use air vents rather than air conditioning - the air conditioner could
add 10% to your fuel bill.
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Longer term - choose the right vehicle
- Choose a vehicle that suits your needs (for example, large 4WD's make
expensive commuter vehicles).
- Generally the smaller the engine capacity, the better the fuel consumption.
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More information
