Toyota has issued advice to motorists to help them make their fuel go further.
Fuel supply issues impacting parts of the globe have focused motorists’ minds on making the most out of every tankful.
Achieve better fuel economy from your car
The basics – for all cars
- Firstly, clear out the boot. Removing unnecessary weight will immediately boost your car’s performance and economy.
- Check your tyre pressures. Check once a week that pressures match the figures quoted in your owner’s manual, as low pressures will cause drag and increase fuel consumption.
- Think ahead. Plan your journey and check the route before setting off to help avoid delays or detours that could add miles to your drive and drain litres from your tank.
- Shut up! When you are driving at speeds above 45mph, keep the windows and sunroof closed to reduce drag that can impact fuel consumption;
- Remove roof racks and roof boxes if you are not using them – they generate drag, too;
- Steady does it. Keep to a steady speed with smooth acceleration and braking.
Hybrid-specific tips
- Familiarise yourself with the hybrid information display on the dashboard so that you can see, at a glance, how much energy you are using and where it is coming from – the hybrid battery or the engine;
- Improve your car’s efficiency by selecting the Eco drive mode. This will adjust the response of the accelerator and, in some cars, the air conditioning performance to ease power usage so the car can run further and for longer on its electric charge;
- The hybrid system will switch to EV electric drive when possible. You can maximise this by using the accelerator gently, with light but consistent pressure;
- Brake gently and early so that the regenerative braking system can harvest more energy to store as electricity in the hybrid battery. Again, this will help the car run in EV mode for longer;
- Also, key an eye on the dials and gauges to understand how the hybrid system is working and to manage the hybrid battery’s charge level;
- If your car has cruise control, it is a good way of maintaining a steady speed, so your vehicle uses less power.
- Using the air recirculation function in the air conditioning system also reduces energy usage. Remember, the air-con, lights, and wipers will increase the amount of energy you are using.
- In urban traffic, you can switch manually to EV (electric vehicle) driving mode. The car will run for as far or as long as possible on its electric power. You will see the green EV light illuminated in the instrument panel.
Further reading:
- Money-free ways of going zero waste
- What to consider when designing dairy buildings
- A guide to tackling rushes on your farm
See more top tips.
