An Improved Education Kit for Fuel-Efficient Driving
By Emmanuelle Brière
January 2013
The recently updated Auto$mart Driver’s Education Kit contains practical driving techniques to improve fuel efficiency by up to 25%.
By adopting some simple fuel-efficient driving techniques, drivers can save up to $500 in fuel costs per year, and avoid releasing 1,000 kg of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.
To help new drivers learn the basics of fuel-efficient driving, Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) has recently updated its Auto$mart Driver’s Education Kit.
“In addition to helping new drivers become aware of how driving affects the environment and choose a fuel-efficient vehicle, this new kit introduces five specific driving techniques.” says Charles Crispim, Senior Manager with ecoENERGY Efficiency for Vehicles. “These techniques help drivers better understand fuel-saving behaviours and put them into practice.”
The five techniques of fuel-efficient driving
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Accelerate gently
In the city about half the fuel a vehicle consumes is used for acceleration. To optimize fuel efficiency, take approximately five seconds to accelerate to 20 kilometres per hour (km/h) by pressing the pedal gradually.
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Maintain a steady speed
A slight variation of 5 kilometres per hour can result in significant increase in fuel consumption. For example, if a driver is going 80 km/h and changing speeds every 18 seconds, that driver could consume 20% more fuel than a driver maintaining a steady speed.
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Anticipate traffic
By planning manoeuvres well in advance, a driver can maintain a steady speed and avoid unnecessary stops to help save fuel.
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Coast to decelerate
By removing his or her foot from the accelerator as soon as possible before the vehicle stops completely, a driver allows the vehicle to coast, also reducing wear on the vehicle’s brakes and tires.
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Avoid high speeds
Most vehicles are at maximum efficiency between 50 and
80 km/h; any faster, and the vehicle uses more fuel. For example, a vehicle travelling at 120 km/h consumes 20% more fuel than a vehicle travelling 100 km/h.
Natural Resources Canada selected these techniques based on studies in Japan, Europe and the United States. “The studies all followed the same formula: a driver went through the same course twice – once before and once after a brief driving lesson,” says Steve Akehurst, chief of NRCan’ ecoENERGY Efficiency for Vehicles Program. “After the lesson, drivers reduced their fuel consumption by up to 25%. NRCan then decided to feature these techniques in the updated driver education kit.”
Does it really work?
The NRCan Office of Energy Efficiency (OEE) tested these techniques in-house by organizing an Eco-Driving Challenge for its employees. Those who participated found they were able to achieve up to a 25% reduction in fuel consumption.
Manitoba driving instructors then took the same challenge. Instructors drove a designated course twice. Before the second run, instructors were given a brief lesson on the five key principles of fuel-efficient driving. Driving time and fuel consumption were recorded for each driver during each run.
“It was interesting that despite the fact that educators are already safe and proactive drivers, on average we witnessed a 15 percent reduction in fuel use just by the drivers focusing on the five fuel-saving behaviours,” concluded Charles Crispim.
For more information on the Auto$mart Driver’s Education Kit, visit the Office of Energy Efficiency Web site.
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