Ten ways to drive green - but why?

[mawby]

According to this, here are 10 ways to drive greener.

 

1. Reverse into a parking space – save £100

2. Turn off air-conditioning – save £94

3. Lighten the load – save £56

4. Change gear between 2,000 and 2,500rpm

5. Drive at 56mph on the motorway

6. Avoid harsh braking and accelerating – save £250 with tips 4, 5 and 6

7. Close windows and remove roof racks – save £216

8. Avoid speed bumps and built-up areas – save £93

9. Check oil level – avoid paying £1,400 on potential repairs

10. Check tyre pressure – save £93

 

What I want to know is why is number 1 true?

[Rob]

I wonder if, when you pull up to a space the engine is warm and you brake, then reverse in, pull away later with cooler engine...but the other way you drive in first, then when you leave with cooler engine you reverse out but use the engine to stop reversing and start forward motion, rather than brake and change gear, equalling worse fuel economy.

 

Maybe

[Stonkin]

if you reverse in and have a towbar and hit something you've saved £100 on a bumper repair. Common sense id say

[Ric]

most people reverse into a space with no accel, just clutch control ( i know i do ) therefore less emissions? perhaps?

[Matt H]

Very wierd. And it's at the no.1 spot to!! lol

[RedM]

It's to do with being able to drive off straight away when the engine is cold.

 

Thanks Google.

[jevansio]

8. Avoid speed bumps and built-up areas – save £93

 

I've been practicing this for the last 6 months and saved £40. Sadly I've been living rough on the outskirts of town in my Supra, my fiancee thinks I've disappeared

[hogmaw]

11. sell the Supra and buy a Prius

 

One thing that riles me is the enforcment of stupid one way systems and no-turns-allowed meaning a mile or two is often added to a journey which could easily be much shorter therefore saving more fuel

[SteveR]

Thanks Google.

 

 

 

I'm getting a consistent 57~58mpg fom the Pug. I'm pleased with that as the book for my model is ~45mpg for the standardised "combined cycle", and that type of driving is pretty much what I'm doing (for the rest of the week at least).

[Kranz]

It should be to coast into the car park, then reverse in with a hot engine...... Or even better coast into a space that has a space infront of it, so you're facing out forwards

 

Then there's EOCing (Engine Off Coasting) but its a bit of a dangerous practice However, EOCing into a parking space that has a forward facing space infront of it is the ultimate..... especially if you crawl into the space using EOC and no brakes! That's the ultimate Hypermiler's goal

 

Anyway, reversing out of a space with a cold engine labours the cold engine and uses more fuel than reversing in with a hot engine........ as Rawsacks said

 

Here's a hundred Hypermiling tips for you http://ecomodder.com/forum/EM-hypermiling-driving-tips-ecodriving.php

[Ewen]

Retracting the wing mirrors helps too.

And, having dead flies stuck to the bonnet reduces drag and improves fuel economy.

[scotty supra]

If you polish the car with good quality wax will you get better mpg as the car is smoother so more streamlined and also slightly faster:D????

[Angarak]

...

1. Reverse into a parking space – save £100

...

 

That looks like £100 women wont be saving then

 

[Pete]

DbCI68eSNsA

[juanchan]

And, having dead flies stuck to the bonnet reduces drag and improves fuel economy.

 

If you polish the car with good quality wax will you get better mpg as the car is smoother so more streamlined and also slightly faster:D????

 

I'd go with Ewen on that one Gotta keep the boundary layer attached and all

[dangerous brain]

Also the reverse parking thing, you spend longer with the engine running trying to get out of a parking space in reverse than if you just nip out forwards. In a supermarket car park more likely to bing your car as you try and drag your shopping down the side of the car to either your door or the boot.

[stuohy]

Here's a hundred Hypermiling tips for you http://ecomodder.com/forum/EM-hypermiling-driving-tips-ecodriving.php

 

When you *have* to slow down, here's an approximate heirarchy of methods, from best to worst.

 

1) coasting in neutral, engine off (ie. roll to a stop);

2) coasting in neutral, engine idling;

3) regenerative coasting (hybrid vehicles)

4) regenerative braking (hybrid vehicles)

5) coasting in "deceleration fuel cut-off" mode (in gear, above a certain engine RPM)

6) conventional friction braking (non-hybrid or hybrid)

 

Choosing the right method depends on traffic conditions (following vehicles) and how quickly you need to stop.

 

I thought that no 5 was more efficient than no 2? At least when JC did that drive to Edinburgh and back on one tank of fuel, that's what the expert said...

[Rich]

It should be to coast into the car park, then reverse in with a hot engine...... Or even better coast into a space that has a space infront of it, so you're facing out forwards

 

Then there's EOCing (Engine Off Coasting) but its a bit of a dangerous practice However, EOCing into a parking space that has a forward facing space infront of it is the ultimate..... especially if you crawl into the space using EOC and no brakes! That's the ultimate Hypermiler's goal

 

Anyway, reversing out of a space with a cold engine labours the cold engine and uses more fuel than reversing in with a hot engine........ as Rawsacks said

 

Here's a hundred Hypermiling tips for you http://ecomodder.com/forum/EM-hypermiling-driving-tips-ecodriving.php

 

:)Hows this for a spot of EOCing?

[stevie_b]

Here's a hundred Hypermiling tips for you http://ecomodder.com/forum/EM-hypermiling-driving-tips-ecodriving.php

 

No. 48: I thought it was illegal in the UK to drive in barefeet, or maybe that's an urban myth. (I realise it's a US-targeted website though).

 

No. 20: group buy on windsocks, anyone?