Planning your journey
It’s not always easy to know what transport options are available when making the transition from the car to other modes of transport, but the benefits of leaving the car at home, even if it is one day a week makes good sense. We are here to help you plan and make choices about the other ways to get to and from work, around town or further afield.
Although driving a car is the least sustainable choice of travel it is sometimes a necessity and there are ways in which you can reduce the impacts of car travel on the environment; save money, reduce energy use, CO2 emissions and pollution.
We have set out below some eco-driving tips that are simple ideas that really make a difference.
Maintenance
Servicing: get the car serviced regularly to maintain engine efficiency.
Before you go
Lose weight: extra weight means extra fuel so if there’s anything in the boot you don’t need on the journey take it out
En-route
Easy does it: drive smoothly, accelerate gently and read the road ahead to avoid unnecessary braking
Rolling: if you can keep the car moving all the time, the better; stopping then starting again uses more fuel than rolling
Is it best to idle or switch off?
You might be tempted to switch off the engine every time you stop after all many cars now have automatic stop-start systems that do just that but is switching off manually the best thing for your wallet or the environment?
As a general guide, for a warm car in daylight conditions in mild weather, turning the engine off for a wait of around a minute or more will probably save fuel. A cold engine, cold weather, or additional electrical loads will all extend the period you’d have to be stationary to get a benefit from switching off.
Is it a good idea to coast?
Although it used to be quite a common practice to save fuel, rolling downhill or approaching a junction with the car out of gear is inadvisable because the driver doesn’t have full control of the vehicle. You lose the ability to suddenly accelerate out of tricky situations:
Don’t waste time having difficulties in finding the way to your destination – use our useful tips above and you will be sure to embark on a smooth journey. With Smarter Travel you can not only plan your trip, but you will easily and seamlessly travel from door to door using all means of sustainable travel options available to you.
Alternatively, thinking about purchasing a new car? How about going electric? Visit Go Ultra Low for more information and FAQ’s.