Sustainable driving behaviors and their impact

Sustainable driving behaviors and their impact

How can you maintain the climate while behind the wheel?

Climate change has received increasing attention in recent years. The transportation sector contributes significantly to increasingfuel consumption; Consequently, greenhouse gas emissions and poor air quality increase. Which poses a serious threat to the respiratory health of millions of people.

Globally,Road transportis responsible for about 16% of carbon dioxide emissions from human sources. Burning fuel used in various means of transportation contributes to greenhouse gas emissions, but the car engine is not the only culprit here, as a large part of the responsibility falls on the shoulders of the vehicle driver, his driving behaviors, and everyone’s transportation policies.

Slowing down, accelerating, adhering to the set speed, how to use the brakes, choosing the road, traffic, the condition of the car, etc., are all matters that differ from one person to another, but they represent a major factor in determining the amount of emissions issued by each vehicle.

Drivers can conserve fuel by learning how different driving behaviors affect fuel efficiency, and learning about different ways to reduce consumption. The amount of fuel your vehicle consumes depends largely on the way you drive, and we will explain below the most prominent behaviors related to that.

Slow down and drive carefully

Speed increasesfuel consumptionand reduces efficiency; This is a result of the increased resistance generated by the friction of the tires with the ground, and the resistance of the car’s body to the air. While the ideal speed to obtain the best fuel efficiency varies from one car to another, what is common here is that low speeds in general usually result in fuel consumption. Less.

For light vehicles such as personal cars, for example, reducing your speed by “10 to 15 km per hour” can improve fuel economy by a rate ranging from 7% to 14%.

Using adaptive cruise control on the highway can help drivers maintain a constant speed, since vehicles use the most energy when accelerating. Adhering to legal speed limits, in addition to gently and gradually accelerating and braking and reading the road ahead of you, can improve the fuel efficiency of your car by “15% to 30%” on highways and “10% to 40%” in stop-and-go traffic. We should also not forget that driving in a more rational manner Being quieter is also safer for you and others.

Combining trips

Combining trips can save you time and money by avoiding unnecessary stops, and then starting your car again, as the process of starting and stopping the car, especially in the winter, is an energy-draining process. Because it takes longer for the engine to reach the most fuel efficient temperature.

Short trips can consume twice the amount of fuel than one long, multi-purpose trip that covers the same distance. When the engine is warm and at the appropriate temperature, this is greatly reflected in the car’s fuel consumption efficiency.

Sharing rides is also another solution, where you can communicate with your friends, neighbors, and work colleagues, by using one car for transportation whenever possible. To save fuel consumption, as well as contribute to reducing traffic densities.

Reduce the load and listen to your car

The additional weight of the items your car carries requires more fuel to drive the wheels. For example, adding 50 kg in the trunk of the car can reduce fuel economy by approximately 1%. So empty out any unnecessary items; To reduce the fuel consumption of your car.

Drivers may find it difficult to identify opportunities to save fuel while driving, which can be suggested to them by the car’s information system, by switching between different driving modes, as a study conducted “in 2018” by the National Center found ForSustainable Transportation (America) the feedback that appears to the driver while driving affects the driver’s behavior and improves fuel economy by an average of 6.6%, and can lead to greater improvements in driving when combined with other strategies.

Car manufacturers, in turn, have in recent years developedinformation systemsfor their various models, allowing the driver to be provided with the necessary information – through the display screens in the interior cabin – to improve driving; In order to reduce fuel consumption.

For example, Honda’s Eco Assist and HondaLink features include an advanced feedback system that teaches drivers how to drive more efficiently, behaviors that affect fuel economy. On the other hand, Nissan provides an indicator on the instrument panel and a mechanism to control pressure on the accelerator pedal. To prevent the engine from rotating violently.

Another thing is stopping the car’s engine when waiting. According to the California Energy Commission (CEC), it is necessary to turn off vehicles if the expected wait is longer than 10 seconds, since a parked car (with the engine running) can burn up to “3.5 liters” of gasoline every hour.

Periodic maintenance is the key to reducing fuel consumption

A little maintenance on your car can go a long way in improvingFuel efficiency. According to the US Department of Energy, “4.6 billion” liters of gasoline are wasted – approximately 1% of total consumption – every year; Due to tires not being inflated to the appropriate pressures.

The National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (America) indicates that bad spark plugs (contact switch) can reduce fuel economy by up to 30%, so, if you suddenly notice a decrease in the number of kilometers traveled per liter of gasoline, there is a high probability that it is due to spark plugs that Needs maintenance.

Also, adjusting tire angles is important, as misaligned tires pull the car to either side of the road instead of forward, and incorrect tire alignment can reduce fuel efficiency by up to 10%, and in addition, tires can wear out more quickly.

Reducing the amount of driving we do, whether it’s carpooling or cutting out an unnecessary trip, is probably the most effective way; To reduce the amount of fuel each person uses and make filling up operations at the gas station last longer.

In conclusion, proactive steps can be taken; To improve fuel efficiency by paying attention to driving habits that consume a lot of fuel and changing them, and following the car’s maintenance schedule. In addition to the financial benefit that will accrue to you from reducing fuel consumption in light of its high global prices, less fuel consumption means less emissions of Greenhouse Gases (GHGs). This will have a significant impact on reducing the phenomenon of climate change, avoiding its devastating consequences, and shifting our behaviors to true sustainability.