As the price of energy soars, many of us are looking for ways to reduce our consumption, with drivers focusing on efficiency in order to cut costs.
Efficient driving and car-sharing are ways we can save money, says the International Energy Agency (IEA), noting transport accounts for around 45% of oil consumption.
If you are a driver seeking to save fuel, one way is to check your tyre pressures and make sure they are inflated correctly, as indicated in your owner’s manual, as underinflated and overinflated tyres both adversely affect fuel economy, says Britain's RAC motoring club.
Tyre pressures will vary depending on the load you are carrying: if you have four passengers and luggage then you will need your tyres inflated to the maximum recommended pressures.
But speed matters even more, says the RAC. Stick to the limit or go even slower as the higher your speed and the more you accelerate, the more fuel your car uses.
Excessive speed is the main factor reducing your car's fuel economy.
And while accelerating gently is good for economical driving, there is a balance. Youdon't want to constantly accelerate gradually - instead, move up through the gears to your desired speed relatively quickly, the automotive experts say.
Keeping your car moving at the right speed is essential to fuel economy. It depends on traffic conditions but slowing down and having to accelerate again uses more fuel.
Overall, the IEA suggests measures from working from home to reduce travel in order to cut oil consumption in response to the supply crunch triggered by the Iran war.
Working from home where possible, reducing speed limits and shifting travel away from private cars to public transport could help reduce fuel use, says the IEA.
It suggests making additional savings through car-sharing, more efficient driving and, on a broader level, improving freight and delivery transport.
Generally speaking, managing demand is a crucial and immediately effective tool to ensure energy security and ease pressure on consumers, the IEA says.
Avoiding air travel can also help reduce oil demand, and ideally, switching to alternative energy sources where possible. – dpa
