10 Simple Eco-Driving Tips to Save Fuel (or Electricity) Right Away

10 Simple Eco-Driving Tips to Save Fuel (or Electricity) Right Away

Whether you drive a combustion engine or an electric car – the biggest factor affecting consumption is always behind the wheel. With a few simple adjustments to your driving style, you can boost your efficiency by up to 25%. That's good for your wallet and the environment. Here are the 10 most effective tips you can start using right away.

1. Drive anticipatively

The number one rule of eco-driving. Watch the traffic far ahead of you. See a red light or a traffic jam? Ease off the accelerator early and let the car coast, rather than braking hard at the last moment. Every time you brake, energy is wasted.

2. Accelerate gently

Avoid jackrabbit starts. A gentle press on the accelerator is far more efficient than flooring it. Your car uses the most energy during acceleration.

3. Maintain a constant speed

Steady driving is key. Use cruise control on motorways and country roads to maintain a constant speed. This is much more efficient than constantly accelerating and braking.

4. Shift up early

Driving a manual? Shift up early and drive at low RPMs. Modern engines handle this without any issues. A good rule of thumb is to shift at around 2,000 RPM.

5. Remove unnecessary weight

Every kilogram counts. The crate of drinks in the boot or the unused roof rack increase consumption unnecessarily. Remove anything from the car that you don't need for the journey.

6. Check tyre pressure

Low tyre pressure increases rolling resistance and therefore consumption. Check the pressure every few weeks and keep it at the manufacturer's recommended level.

7. Use air conditioning & heating consciously

Air conditioning and heating are major energy consumers. Use them consciously and switch them off when they're not needed. Sometimes the ventilation alone is enough.

8. Use engine braking (regenerative braking in EVs)

When driving downhill, use engine braking (regenerative braking in EVs). This not only saves brake pads, but in EVs, energy is actually recovered.

9. Avoid short trips

A cold engine uses disproportionately more fuel. Where possible, combine several short trips into one longer journey.

10. Measure your success

How do you know if your efforts are paying off? This is exactly where Aximote comes in. The app analyses every trip and shows you in black and white how efficiently you're driving. Track your consumption, identify savings potential and watch your costs drop.