5 Golden rules of Eco-driving
Decreasing your greenhouse gas emissions is also reducing your fuel consumption of 10 to 25 %
and thanks to a more quiet driving behaviour, your accidents rate.
Here are 5 golden rules for the eco-driving:
- Shift up as soon as possible – Between 2.000 and 2.500 revolutions
- Maintain a steady speed – Use the highest gear possible and drive with low engine RPM
- Anticipate traffic flow – Look ahead and aim to anticipate surrounding traffic
- Decelerate smoothly – Release the accelerator in time, leaving the car in gear
- Check the tyre pressure frequently – Once a month
And a few more tips:
- Turn off the engine whenever you are stopped.
- Take your foot off the accelerator in time, when you approach a crossroads,
traffic light, etc.
Brake with the engine. Leave the engine in the same gear for as long as possible without pressing the clutch. Modern engines automatically cut off the fuel supply as soon as you release the accelerator. - Start off in a relaxed state and drive calmly to allow the engine temperature to build up gradually. Never drive at full throttle. The final quarter that you can push on the pedal does not deliver more speed or acceleration… just higher fuel consumption.
- A well-maintained car uses less fuel. Follow the manufacturer’s guidelines carefully.
- Do not put unnecessarily wide tyres on your car. Using a tyre size greater than that recommended by the manufacturer results in increased fuel consumption of 2 to 5% because of the increased contact with the road.
- Only use electric accessories (air-conditioning, window heater, heated seats, etc…) when really necessary. Turning on the air-conditioning at full blast can increase consumption by 30%!
- Avoid unnecessarily loading up your car, especially the roof. A loaded baggage rack can increase fuel consumption by 40%. Attach bikes to the rear of the car, if possible, rather than the roof.
- Measuring is knowing: keep the fuel consumption screen visible on your on-board computer. That will tell you straight away if you’re driving economically or not !
What makes your car consuming more:
- extra weight of 50 kg: + 3%
- driving with open windows: + 10%
- sporty driving style: + 20%
- ski rack or luggage box on the roof: + 22%
- using air conditioning: 17.5 - 30%
