Every small effort counts; save your fuel by 15-25% using these hacks!

In the hustle and bustle of cities like Kathmandu, high fuel consumption has become inevitable. It is commonly perceived that private ownership of two and four-wheelers makes commuting easier and more convenient for those who are on move. This is attested by the fact that the number of private vehicles in Kathmandu has skyrocketed in recent years. One of the consequences of this phenomenon has been that there’s been an increase consumption of fossil fuel. Thus, the demand of fuel has increased and so has its consumption. However, any efforts to increase fuel efficiency can bring significant benefits at both individual and societal levels.

Here are a few helpful tips to save fuel:

  1. Drive at economic speed

The speed at which your vehicle yields best mileage is economic speed. In Nepal’s driving conditions, A recent research at Oak Ridge National Laboratoryin the U.S efficiency has shown that every additional 16 kmph reduces fuel economy by about 14%.

 

  1. Lower your vehicle’s RPM

Lesser the Revolutions per Minute (RPM, which simply means rotations of components in your engine), lesser the fuel squirted into the vehicle cylinders. Thus, less fuel is being taken from the tank. Many cars these days come with 7 and 8 speed transmissions, so you can run at high speeds with low RPMs.

 

  1. Maintain your vehicle

According to the U.S Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), having your car properly tuned and regularly serviced can increase gas mileage by up to 4%. Your car tyre, the pressure of which you should check regularly, should always be inflated to the correct level. Also, use the best engine oil available in the market. Inflating your tyre and using the correct oil can save fuel up to 3% and 2%.  Another hack would be to ditch unnecessary weight from your car. Losing 45 kg will improve fuel economy by another 2%. Seek shade when you park, as petrol is a volatile liquid. Aside from that no one likes the smell of burnt leather, which is a possible consequence of parking in the scorching heat. The colour of your vehicle also slowly fades if you put it out for too long in the Sun. You can certainly try to avoid the adding the cost of repainting to the already high cost of regular car maintenance.  

 

  1. Operate Smoothly

Since new cars do not need much revving, over revving the vehicle is an easy way to waste fuel. Revving up for about15-20 seconds should be enough to get you to 60-70 kmph, and slow acceleration can also contribute to fuel economy. Once you reach the desired speed maintain a constant pace. Changing up the gear before reaching 2,500 revs (petrol) and 2,000 (diesel) is a useful tip. Don’t let the car remain in the idle mode to the extent possible. Turn the engine off if you have to stop for a longer period of time. Try to avoid traffic jams where possible, by checking your radio or smartphone for traffic news. Also, do not overuse your air conditioning as, at lower speed as it can reduce your car efficiency by 10% on a high setting. Wind drag is also another source of reduced fuel mileage, so keep your windows rolled up.  Another useful tip is to not over fill your fuel tank, it only adds unnecessary weight to the car. It can also cause a hazardous leak due to the excess pressure in the system. Whenever possible, use the best engine oil available. You will find that it makes a huge difference, not only in fuel economy, but also in how smooth you drive.

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  1. Change your personal habits

You should not succumb to the urge to overtake only to stop at the traffic light a few meters ahead. Decelerate slowly if you see traffic congestion up head. The time you lose during the deceleration is probably the same as the time you would spend waiting at the stoplight, but your driving will become smoother, which is a plus point.

 

If you really want to save money on fuel, you should drop your habit of driving only petrol or diesel vehicle, and start driving electric vehicles.  Switching to electric drive is more economic, and eco-friendly. Electricity is the best alternative to fossil fuel. An average American spends about $2000-4000 on petrol every year, and this can be avoided in an electric car. in the long run.

 

  1. Government regulation

For instance it is high time the government decided to take action against chaotic and disorganized drivers. Overtaking and stopping with no respect for traffic rules or safety of pedestrian should be strictly discouraged. Crowded public vehicles that stack passengers sometimes until their tyres go flat should be banned from plying on the road, as this is a safety hazard and results in reduced fuel economy. Also, pedestrians should be encouraged to use overhead bridges wherever possible, as this leads to smooth driving (which saves fuel) and is also safer for pedestrians themselves. The traffic police should be more stringent in enforcing rules, and in ensuring that the no driving licences are issued without proper training and driving tests.

 

All roads should be properly black topped to avoid rough driving, which can lead to accidents. The general public condition of vehicles is another major obstacle. Buses older than 20 years are still running on the roads, which is a safety hazard as well as a cause for reduced fuel efficiency. These vehicles should be banned, and newer fuel efficient buses with high passenger carrying capacities should be introduced. This will reduce the number of vehicles running on the roads, which will improve fuel economy.