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With global warming, an increase in greenhouse gases, and other environmental issues plaguing the world, making your car more efficient is just one way to fight the battle on your home turf. While older vehicles are often impervious to efficient upgrades, modern vehicles make it far easier to reduce your carbon footprint. If you’re searching for ways to go green behind the wheel, here are a few suggestions to get you started.
Ease Up on the Gas and the Brakes
Whether you’re angry or just have an insatiable urge to burn some rubber, accelerating rapidly and grinding to a halt can cause significant fuel consumption. When you accelerate quickly, your car sucks down fuel to supply power while it also combats increased drag. If you’re coming up to a stop sign or a stoplight, braking heavily can also eat up more fuel than if you coasted to the stop. Ease up on the gas and the brakes, and you just might find yourself going a bit farther between fill-ups.
Remove the Dead Weight
When you’re driving around town, you might not think about the extra stuff you’ve stowed in the trunk or rear cargo area. However, just an extra 50 or 100 pounds can reduce your fuel economy by a few percentage points. This includes not only the rear of the car but also rooftop carriers that are ubiquitous for family vacationers.
For medium-duty or heavy-duty vehicles like SUVs and pickups, you should also keep a watchful eye on the gross vehicle weight rating, the payload capacity, and the towing capacity. Each of these terms offers a finite limit of your vehicle’s capabilities. Exceeding these numbers is not only inefficient but dangerous to the mechanical integrity of your truck or SUV.
Inflate the Tires to the Correct Pressure
A simple, foolproof way to save money at the pump is to inflate your tires to the correct pressure. Underinflated tires can adversely affect fuel economy by increasing friction and rolling resistance, resulting in more wear and tear and fuel consumption. Try to check your tire pressure at least once a month to ensure the tires are filled to the manufacturer’s specifications.
Consider Upgrading to an Alternative Fuel Vehicle
If you drive an old gas guzzler or even a newer vehicle that’s not exactly light on the gas usage, you might want to consider upgrading to an alternative fuel vehicle. With the latest advancements in alternative-fuel technology, hybrid vehicles and electric vehicles (EVs) are going farther than ever before. Hybrids can often go up to 50 mpg with minimal emissions, while EVs can often reach up to 100 miles on a single charge.
In certain states, you may also be eligible for a tax credit of up to $7,500, which can offset a substantial portion of the purchase price. If you have the budget, upgrading to one of these vehicles is not only financially sound but also environmentally friendly.
Armed with these tips, making your vehicle more efficient is easier than you ever thought possible. Just imagine all the things you can do with your savings.
Photo by JeepersMedia | Licensed under cc BY 2.0
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