The 8 best tips for driving as economically as possible

Fuel prices are rising again. So it’s worth saving fuel by driving as economically as possible. Here are eight tips that we hope will help you spend less time at the pump in the near future.

When war broke out in Ukraine and gasoline prices skyrocketed, the Dutch government intervened by reducing excise taxes at the pump. However, on July 1, some of these excise tax reliefs were revoked. January 1, 2024 marks the date when the remaining part of this measure must be reintroduced.

The eight best tips for driving as economically as possible

Whether this will ultimately be the case remains to be seen. If the ANWB had its way, prices would not be increased.

1: Check your car

Economical driving begins before you start the engine. A car in the best possible condition performs better on the asphalt. For example, be sure to remember to change the oil: with fresh oil, the engine runs more smoothly and there is less resistance, which improves efficiency.

Also check your tire pressure. For safety reasons, you should do this every two months, but it will also help you save fuel. A tire that is too soft creates more resistance and therefore higher fuel consumption. So inflate your tires vigorously, but not too much. You can find out how high the air pressure should be for your car’s tires in your car’s operating instructions or on the inside of the door.

2: Make your car light and smooth

Also, make sure your car is as light as possible. After all, a heavy car needs more energy to get moving. So it may be worth going through your car and removing all sorts of unnecessary items.

The same applies to elements that affect your car’s air resistance. After winter sports, you should immediately remove the roof box from your car as it causes significantly higher consumption. Driving with bike racks and open windows also causes more air resistance and higher fuel consumption.

3: Shift up on time

If you want to drive economically, shift gears up whenever possible. Ideally you do this above 2000 revolutions per minute. But that doesn’t mean you have to drive like a snail. An internal combustion engine is particularly efficient when it is put under greater strain. When accelerating, apply sufficient accelerator, but shift gears quickly. So be careful not to rev the engine too high. Many petrol engines allow you to shift up to between 2000 and 2500 revolutions per minute. Many cars have a gear shift indicator that shows when it is best to shift up.

4: Don’t drive too fast

Driving fast uses more fuel. In any case, in the Netherlands we are allowed to drive a maximum of 100 km/h during the day, which is easy on your wallet. Your car uses significantly less energy when you drive at 100 km/h instead of 130 km/h. Even slower is even more efficient, but is often undesirable and sometimes even dangerous on the highway. An internal combustion engine usually performs best at a speed of 80 km/h.

5: Don’t brake!

If you want to slow down, do so – if possible – without applying the brake! By braking you are essentially wasting the energy you just burned. It is better to take your foot off the accelerator, wait until the correct speed is reached and then accelerate again.

So make sure you can predict what is happening in front of you. Keep a sufficient distance from the vehicles in front so that you do not have to brake in this case. Also remember early on that a traffic light can turn red so that you can let your car coast with peace of mind. When it turns green again, it takes less energy to accelerate from a speed of 20 km/h than if you were standing completely still.

6: Don’t use the link either

If you need to brake, use only the brakes. Do not disengage the gear or put it in neutral. This may sound like a fuel saving measure, but it isn’t. When you put an internal combustion engine car in neutral, gasoline is used to keep the engine running. So don’t separate it, because then the rolling wheels will keep the engine running. A replenishment of gasoline is then not necessary. In this way you slow down the engine and the engine actually does not consume any fuel.

7: Use your car’s savings systems

Many modern cars have menus where you can see exactly how economically you are driving and what factors influence it. Such systems often show the influence of the air conditioning on consumption, but also give you tips on the position of your right foot. So always pay close attention to this information and see what you can do to use less fuel. Modern cars increasingly have a driving mode button with Eco mode, use this.

A modern start-stop system can also help. If you are stopped at a traffic light, it is better to turn off the engine. Modern cars often do this themselves, but even if there are longer waiting times it is worth parking the older car. Make sure you don’t do this at every red light: standing still for just two seconds will actually require more energy to restart the engine. In addition, you need to prevent your starter from excessive wear and tear, as this also costs money.

8: And think about these thoughts

Always make sure you take the most efficient route to your destination. Modern navigation systems calculate such an eco-route for you. If there is a long traffic jam somewhere, avoid it. Driving in traffic jams costs a lot of energy. Then it’s worth taking a detour for a few kilometers to save fuel.

Also, pay careful attention to the route you take, regardless of the traffic situation. In general, motorway kilometers are very cheap, as are kilometers on a 80 km/h road. If possible, avoid built-up areas where you have to brake and accelerate sharply. And if you only have to travel a very short distance, ask yourself if you really need to drive. The shortest journeys are, relatively speaking, the most expensive.

You can also use various apps to check the current fuel prices at gas stations in your area. Do not refuel along the highway, local unmanned gas stations are often the cheapest. A difference of just a few cents can give you a reasonable profit.

We have already created the most fuel-efficient car possible

Last year, Autovisie took on the challenge of halving a car’s fuel consumption by making adjustments itself. Watch the video below to see what it took to get an old Peugeot 106 to 1:32.