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Motor vehicles

Walking, cycling, and using public transport and telecommunications can be considered more sustainable than using a car, but not all of us can avoid using a car altogether.

Cars offer a flexibility and convenience that can be hard to beat.

Almost all vehicles on our roads are powered by fossil fuels – petrol, diesel, or gas (LPG or CNG). Most cars are bigger, more powerful, and use more energy than we really need. In fact, about 80 percent of the energy used in a car is simply lost – 19 percent moves the vehicle, and only one percent is used to carry the driver.

Drive more efficiently

Driving more efficiently benefits both your wallet and the environment – you save money through fuel savings and there is less pollution.

Avoid cold starts

Making lots of short journeys by car is particularly polluting and costly. Most of our journeys are short – one third are less than 2 kilometres and two thirds less than 6 kilometres; if the engine is cold these distances are too short for it to warm up to its most efficient temperature. Cold engines consume around 40% more fuel, produce more emissions, and increase engine wear and tear. Catalytic converters, which reduce some types of emissions, work only when warmed up. The result? More pollution and higher fuel and maintenance costs.

You can avoid cold starts by walking, cycling, or using public transport or telecommunications instead of travelling by car. If travelling by car, plan your errands so you can do them all in one trip.

Maintain your car

A well-tuned car with tyres at the right pressure will save you money through reduced fuel consumption. If your car is emitting any visible smoke or strong odour have it checked and corrected.

Filling your car

Don’t squeeze the last drop of petrol in at the petrol station. It is often spilt or lost through the overflow pipe when you accelerate or go around corners. Stop filling at the first click.

Make sure you have a correctly fitted petrol tank cap to minimise evaporation.

Drive for efficiency

Avoid peak hour traffic and start-stop traffic. Avoid hard accelerating and braking.

Select the right gear

Change up through the gears and into top gear as quickly as possible without accelerating harder than necessary. Driving in a gear lower than you need wastes fuel; so does letting the engine labour in top gear on hills and corners. Automatic transmission will shift up more quickly and smoothly if you ease back slightly on the accelerator once the car gathers momentum.

Speed reduces fuel economy

High speeds result in higher fuel consumption. At 110 km per hour your car uses 25 percent more fuel than at it would at 90 km per hour. On the open road, drive within the posted speed limits.

Stopping and braking

Resting your foot on the brake or driving with the hand brake on wastes fuel, increases brake wear and decreases braking efficiency. Rather than idle for lengthy periods it is more fuel efficient to switch off and then restart your engine when necessary.

Use air conditioners sparingly

Air conditioners can use about 10 percent extra fuel.

Travel light

The more a car carries the more fuel it uses – an extra 50 kilograms can increase your fuel bill by two percent. Anything fixed to the outside of your car increases wind resistance and fuel consumption. Remove your roof rack when it is not needed.

Buying a car

Buy a car that is fuel-efficient

Generally speaking, the heavier a car, the more fuel it will consume. Automatic cars are less efficient than manuals. Buying a fuel-efficient car will not only be better for the environment, it will save you money - visit the Fuel$aver website to find out how much.

Consider using alternative fuels, like LPG and CNG

Purpose-built LPG vehicles are available in New Zealand, but are currently only available for larger models. In some cases, a smaller petrol or diesel car will be more efficient than a large LPG one.

Carpooling

Sharing a ride with another commuter is known as carpooling or ridesharing. Carpooling cuts down commuter costs, wear and tear on your vehicle, and congestion and pollution. In some cases, cars that have a high occupancy rate (usually three or more) are allowed to use bus lanes or other special lanes, meaning carpoolers can bypass congested traffic.

Last updated: 17 September 2007