Eco driving. Way to reduce fuel consumption

Fuel consumption is one of the main model selection criteria for many car buyers. You can also reduce your fuel consumption by driving smartly every day and sticking to the principles of sustainable driving.

Eco-driving has been making a career out of it for several years now. In a word, this is a set of rules, the observance of which helps to reduce fuel consumption. They were initiated several years ago in Western Europe, mainly in Scandinavia. From there they came to us. Eco-driving has a double meaning. It is about both economical and ecological driving.

– In Stockholm or Copenhagen, drivers drive so smoothly that they do not stop at intersections. There, during the driving test, the question of whether the driver drives in an environmentally friendly way is noticed, says Radosław Jaskulski, driving instructor at Skoda Auto Szkoła.

So what should a driver remember to make their car burn less fuel? Start as soon as the engine starts. Instead of waiting for the bike to warm up, we should be riding right now. The engine warms up faster while driving than when idling. – A cold engine idling at idle wears out faster because the conditions are unfavorable for it, explains Radosław Jaskulski.

In winter, when preparing the car for driving, for example, washing windows or sweeping snow, we do not start the engine. Not only because of the principles of eco-driving. Parking a car with the engine running in built-up areas for more than a minute, except in situations related to traffic conditions, is prohibited and you can get a fine of PLN 100 for this.

Immediately after pulling away, gear ratios should be selected accordingly. The first gear should be used only for starting off, and after a moment, turn on the second one. This applies to both petrol and diesel vehicles. - Three can be thrown at 30-50 km / h, four at 40-50 km / h. Five is enough 50-60 km / h. The point is to keep staff turnover as low as possible, - emphasizes the instructor of the Skoda driving school.

Be able to anticipate while driving. For example, when approaching an intersection where we need to give way, we don't brake hard when we see another vehicle. Let's observe this intersection from a distance of several tens of meters. If there is a car that has the right of way, maybe instead of braking, you just need to take your foot off the gas or brake the engine to get it through. Engine braking also occurs when driving downhill. Generator load also affects fuel consumption. So it might be worth considering whether it is possible to turn off unnecessary current receivers, such as chargers for a radio or telephone. Maybe you don't need to turn on the air conditioner?

In eco-driving, not only driving style is important, but also the technical condition of the car. For example, you need to take care of the correct tire pressure. A 10% reduction in tire pressure is associated with an 8% increase in fuel consumption. In addition, it is worth unloading the car. Many drivers carry a lot of unnecessary things in the trunk, which not only adds extra weight, but also takes up space. It is estimated that following the principles of sustainable driving can reduce fuel consumption by 5-20 percent, depending on the driving style. On average, it is assumed that fuel consumption can be reduced by 8-10 percent.

If, for example, the driver of the popular Skoda Octavia with a 1.4 TSI petrol engine with 150 hp. (average fuel consumption 5,2 l/100 km) drives 20 per month. km, during this time he must fill at least 1040 liters of gasoline. By following the principles of eco-driving, he can reduce this need by about 100 liters.