Efficient Driving It's called eco-driving, and we've calculated that driving this way could save you up to £120 a year in petrol or diesel. And with fuel prices rising all the time, eco-driving could save you even more in the future.Adopting an eco-driving style is easy. And once you've mastered it, not only will you start to make real savings, but you'll also be doing your bit for the environment.
That's because eco-driving means driving your car more efficiently. Doing this means your car will produce less carbon dioxide (CO2), the main gas contributing to climate change.
Remember to follow the steps below and you'll soon be saving money and reducing your car's impact on the environment. Check your revs - change up before 2,500rpm (petrol) and 2,000rpm (diesel). Anticipate road conditions and drive smoothly, avoiding sharp acceleration and heavy braking. This saves fuel and reduces accident rates. Use air conditioning sparingly as it significantly increases fuel consumption. The most efficient speed depends upon the car in question but is typically around 45 - 50mph. Faster speed will greatly increase your fuel consumption. Drive away immediately when starting from cold - idling to heat the engine wastes fuel and causes rapid engine wear. Accessories such as roof racks, bike carriers, and roof boxes significantly affect your car's aerodynamics and reduce fuel efficiency, so remember to remove them when not in use. Avoid short journeys - a cold engine uses almost twice as much fuel and catalytic converters can take five miles to become effective. Plan your journeys to avoid congestion, road works and getting lost. Check your tyre pressure regularly - under-inflated tyres are dangerous and can increase fuel consumption by up to 3%. If you're stuck in a jam, switch the engine off if you expect to be there for more than a minute or two. Cutting the engine will save fuel and reduce emissions.
Alternative Fuel
Alternative fuel DieselDiesel cars emit less CO than their petrol equivalents, but they produce more 'air quality' emissions, such as nitrogen oxides (NOx) and particulates, which pollute towns and cities, and affect our health. If you are considering buying a diesel car, choose one with a diesel particulate filter (DPF), as this will reduce particulate matter emissions. These filters are available for many different car models, although you may have to request one as an optional extra. Hybrid Vehicles
Hybrid cars have a conventional engine in addition to an electrical motor and battery which is recharged while you drive. Current models run on petrol and electricity, although diesel/electric hybrid models are expected soon. Hybrid cars are already available from several manufacturers and are proving increasingly popular. Electric Vehicles
Electric vehicles produce no exhaust emissions and are exempt from road tax. You recharge them by plugging them into the mains via a normal mains socket. Most have a range of about 40-50 miles and a top speed of about 50mph, so are best suited to urban driving. However, new designs are being developed that have a far greater range. Even if an electric vehicle is not a practical option for your main car, it may be worth considering as a second car. Biodiesel
Produced from plants, or less commonly from waste cooking oil, biodiesel is a diesel substitute that reduces overall CO2 emissions. The government has said that by 2010 all diesel sold in the UK will contain 5 per cent biodiesel. All diesel cars can run on B5 (a blend of 5 per cent biodiesel and 95 per cent conventional diesel). Using blends of more than 5 per cent biodiesel invalidates most cars' warranties so check with your manufacturer before trying it. You should not use untreated plant oil as this could damage your engine.
Produced by fermenting plant material, bioethanol is a petrol substitute that, when used, reduces overall CO2 emissions. All petrol cars can run on E5 (a ready mixed blend of 5 per cent bioethanol and 95 per cent petrol). You should only use blends of more than five per cent if your car has been specifically designed to run on ethanol. Although not yet widely available in the UK, bioethanol is likely to become more popular in the next few years. By 2010, all petrol sold in the UK will contain five per cent bioethanol.
Buying a new car
Buying a new car If you're planning on buying a new car, remember that more fuel-efficient cars cause less pollution and will save you money on both fuel and tax - so choose a car with the lowest CO2 emission levels where possible.Check to see if the car you are interested in has a diesel or hybrid version as these often have much lower CO2 emissions than the petrol engine versions.
In general, small cars and cars with smaller engines produce less CO2. There can also be a big difference in emissions of cars in the same market category (e.g. family cars, MPVs), so make sure you compare before making your purchase.
Emissions that affect air quality, such as NOx and particulates are higher in diesel engines, and these should be considered, particularly if you drive mainly in urban areas.
However modern diesels are getting cleaner all the time and many have the option (or as standard) of a DPF (a diesel particulate filter) which greatly reduces emissions of fine particles from the exhaust.
Diesel engine and hybrid cars generally cost more to buy but are cheaper to run than petrol engine cars. What are the lowest emission cars available in the UK?
You can find information about the lowest emission cars on the new car market in the Best on CO2 Rankings at the Department for Transport's ACT ON CO2 pages. You can choose what class of car you want (e.g. small family, estate, MPV), the gearbox (manual or automatic) and the fuel type (e.g. petrol, diesel, hybrid). Where to find a particular car's CO2 emissions information?
You can find information about a car's CO2 emissions from the following sources: The environmental label which should be displayed on all new cars in showrooms. This grades each car from A (the cleanest) to G (the most polluting). The Vehicle Certification Agency which has a database of cars with their fuel economy and CO2 emissions data. In car adverts - manufacturers are obliged to publish CO2 emission information by law. What if I am purchasing a second hand vehicle?
Alternatively the VCA website has information on CO2 emissions from cars going back as far as 2000 in the downloads section so if you are buying a used car you may be able to find information on its fuel consumption and emissions there.
