Here’s how you can save money and the environment with eco-driving

Alexandre Loo
powrd
Published in
3 min readNov 30, 2022
Photo by CHUTTERSNAP on Unsplash

With rising concerns from global warming and volatile fuel prices, more drivers are finding ways to minimize their carbon footprint and maximize their fuel efficiency. This has lead to a new trend in mobility called eco-driving.

Eco-driving is a method of driving that maximize your vehicle’s fuel economy by operating the engine as efficiently as possible.

Here’s 5 tips that you can consider and apply to your day-to-day driving in order to benefit from eco-driving.

Change your driving behavior

In order to benefit from eco-driving, you will need to first change the way you drive.

  • Drive smoothly. Don’t unnecessarily brake or accelerate. Stopping and then starting again uses more fuel than rolling your vehicle. It also expose your car to wear and tear.
  • Regulate your speed. As long as you can do it safely, try to maintain a steady speed and consider using cruise control mode if your vehicle has the feature.
  • Optimize your route. Plan your route to avoid traffic jam and construction zones. This way, you will shorten the time driven and fuel use.

Reduce unnecessary weight or drag on your vehicle

  • Get rid of unnecessary objects. The heavier your vehicle is, the more fuel it takes move your fleet. Heavy items have a negative effect on fuel consumption.
  • Remove roof-racks if unused. This creates additional drag and weight that your vehicle will face when moving.

Get your car serviced regularly

  • Give your car the necessary maintenance. Frequently scheduled maintenances not only allows your car to be efficient but also keep the driver and the passenger safe.
  • Keep your tires inflated. Check your tires frequently, especially before long trips. Improper inflated tires would increase the use of fuel.

Use the air conditioner sparingly

  • Limit your A/C use. Consider tinting or lowering your vehicle’s door glass to control cabin temperature.

Simply walk or drive electric

  • Just walk. It is the best way to save cost and help the environment. If you’re only going to a location that takes 5 or 10 minutes to reach, why not go for a stroll and get some fresh air?
  • If driving is an essential part of your lifestyle, consider getting yourself an electric car. It is environmental friendly as the vehicle won’t emit pollutants while driving.

To conclude, the secret to eco-driving is really about understanding the reason why you’re reading this article in the first place.

By using the above tips, this will make you an eco-driver as this topic is more than just saving fuel cost. You will also limit your impact on greenhouse gas emissions.

This article is written on behalf of powrd. We provide a community buying solution to support the development of sustainable mobility.

With our offering, we help drivers to boost their purchasing power by allowing access to exclusive deals to fuel or charge their vehicle via an app.

Sources:

https://www.der.wa.gov.au/our-work/programs/205-ecodriving-driving-down-emissions

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-07-03/how-to-save-money-on-petrol-fuel-by-eco-driving/101201364

https://auspost.com.au/our-stories/inspiring-stories/sustainability/electric-vehicles-eco-driving

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Alexandre Loo
powrd
Editor for

Looking forward for the future of sustainable mobility