Drivers told how to save fuel

DRIVERS faced with rocketing petrol and diesel prices on garage forecourts are being offered expert advice on how to make their fuel take them farther.

First up, the team at vehicle leasing firm Vanarama recommend driving smoothly as if you have a bowl of water on the passenger seat. That means gently accelerating and decelerating while moving softly through the gears.

Make sure your car is clutter-free, as you’ll use more fuel if you’re carrying a heavier load – particularly wasteful if you have something heavy in your boot that you don’t need.

You should also remove roof and bike racks that aren’t being used regularly as they create aerodynamic and fuel inefficiency. The same goes for driving with the windows open, so keep them shut.

Air conditioning can also be quite a drain on fuel, so get into the habit of turning it off when you don’t need it.

It’s also important to ensure your tyres are kept at the correct pressure as underinflated tyres can result in the vehicle using significantly more fuel.

Regular servicing and maintenance is also key – something as simple as a blocked air filter or a brake that is binding slightly can have a dramatic effect on your miles-per-gallon rating.

Vanarama reckons probably the single, most effective way of lowering your fuel bill is to plan your routes carefully, using real-time data such as that offered by Google Maps, so that you reduce your mileage and avoid costly congestion.

Online outfit CarFinance 247 added that only topping up the tank with the fuel you need can help you save petrol and money as you won’t be adding any unnecessary weight.

It also advised investing in premium fuel from time to time – it will cost more to fill up but could be more efficient on long journeys.

Using cruise control can provide a more relaxed driving experience, make your engine more efficient, and help you save fuel – as can anticipating the traffic and road conditions ahead.

Your car engine works best when it’s already warm, so it also makes sense to combine journeys rather than make several short trips when you’re trying to save fuel.

UK motoring association MotorEasy boss Duncan McClure Fisher reminded people not to leave their engines idling. He said: “This can be done first thing in the morning to ‘warm it up’ or when stuck in traffic.

“Even dropping off something at a friend’s house can see people leave the motor running instead of turning off the ignition. While this might seem very innocent, research has shown an idling engine can burn through three to four pence of fuel a minute.”

Meanwhile, Select Car Leasing has seen a surging 59 per cent increase in interest for electric vehicles in recent days alone as a result of record-high forecourt prices.

Online searches were also up 200 per cent compared with the same week last year following ongoing issues with the availability of fuel in the UK, while experts discovered interest on Google Trends rose by as much as 334 per cent.

David Lewis, an EV specialist for the leasing company, said: “Electric drivers are able to rest easy knowing they haven’t experienced the numerous fuel issues in the last year, and need only rely on a home charger or public charging point to fuel their car.

“What’s more, our research found they can fuel a car at home for as little as £12.72 – which is 86 per cent cheaper than a diesel car.”

And eco-friendly vehicle firm LeaseElectricCar.co.uk says it has witnessed a whopping 371 per cent increase in demand for hybrid vehicles since the turn of the year compared with the same period last year.

Its experts say as well as the fuel price rises, greater choice and more active promotion of EVs by manufacturers is prompting people to switch.

A spokesman said: “Many people may feel the cost of buying an electric car is out of reach, but there is also the option to lease, which can cost in the region of £200 a month.”