Drive Cleaner and Greener: Everyday Habits to Lower Fuel Consumption and Emissions
Do you ever wonder how your driving affects the planet and your wallet? Maybe you haven’t, but you’ve heard vehicles are destroying the environment by relying on fossil fuels and emitting toxic gases. In the European Union, for example, road transport emissions, particularly carbon dioxide (CO2), will surge to 800 million tonnes. According to the report by the International Council on Clean Transportation, global emissions from road transport and fuel use will also peak significantly.
Apart from carbon dioxide, vehicles, be it passenger cars or freight trucks, emit other pollutants like nitrous oxide, methane, and hydrofluorocarbons that speed up global warming. While it makes sense not to use vehicles at all to make transportation sustainable, they’re needed for convenience. What else can be done to make driving cleaner? Focus on greener driving and making cars more environmentally friendly. In this post, we’ll explore green driving habits that minimize fuel usage and emissions in vehicles, including freight trucks.
Practice Defensive Driving
What comes to mind about being a defensive driver? Better road safety because you’re alert and capable of taking measures to prevent accidents. So how does it contribute to the green driving initiative? When learning to drive defensively, you’ll notice there’s a lot of emphasis on driving at a steady speed of about 45 to 65 mph, eliminating idling time, and avoiding aggressive behaviors like sudden braking and acceleration. These practices don’t just promote safety but also help improve fuel economy.
Something else about taking a defensive driving class is increased awareness of how driving styles correlate with fuel emissions and consumption. Rapid acceleration, for instance, forces the engine system to create a rich fuel-to-air ratio, meaning there’s too much fuel that needs to be burned with limited air. The downside to this process is wasted fuel and increased production of hydrocarbons and carbon dioxide because there is less air for complete combustion of gasoline.
By raising such awareness, drivers can adopt green practices on the road to lower their impact on the planet. Other roles of defensive driving in lowering vehicle emissions include route planning optimization, stress reduction, and proactive response to potential hazards. For example, learning to stay calm on the road or drive without stress, you drive smoothly. That means you’re not quick to hit the brakes or accelerate recklessly, which support sustainable driving goals.
Use Automobile Tech Wisely
The first auto technology worth using is hybrid and electric vehicles. Think of how hybrids leverage electric motors with internal combustion engines to maximize fuel usage. How about electric vehicles that produce zero tailpipe emissions? By switching to an electrified passenger car or truck, you can become a more eco-conscious driver.
Consider this: recent auto transport data on fuel consumption and emissions shows the standard diesel truck generates approximately 1,500 pounds of CO2 when shipping a single car. And a long hauler burns 10,000 gallons of diesel, making heavy-duty vehicles energy intensive and major contributors of climate change.
When electric-powered trucks are used, they emit fewer greenhouse gases. During a study of how electric trucks can cut emissions in Australia, researchers found battery electric trucks can deliver emission cuts of 75% to 85% throughout their lifecycle. What if you can’t switch to an electric or hybrid vehicle? There are tech devices and apps that support green driving. Telematics, for instance, optimizes route planning- that’s finding less congested routes to reduce mileage and gas consumption.
Underinflated tires are notorious for causing inefficient driving. To solve this problem, why not use tire pressure monitoring systems? This tech alerts you when tires are deflated so you can fix them promptly. You could also use engine and emissions sensors to monitor gasoline consumption, air quality, and detect faulty parts that can impact eco-friendly driving.
Reduce Aerodynamic Drag
Have you heard the advice close windows when driving at high speeds or to get rid of external accessories (roof racks, excess lights, large mirrors, and bull bars)? Following these guidelines reduces aerodynamic drag or the force against a vehicle moving through air. When this drag is lowered, automobile performance improves, which boosts fuel economy and lowers greenhouse gas production.
For example, when cruising on highways with your windows open, airflow inside the vehicle compartment increases. When this happens the car uses more energy to push against the air, hence increasing consumption of gas by up to 20%.
When driving larger vehicles, such as heavy-duty trucks, rolling down windows and removing external attachments alone doesn’t reduce drag. Add aerodynamic features to enhance fuel economy. For example, install cab vanes that extend from the cab’s back corners to the trailer to reduce turbulence and eliminate the need for extra energy to push through. Other aerodynamic add-ons truck drivers should consider to make their driving greener include trailer side skirts and cab roof fairings, lights moulded in the bodywork, and gap reducers.
Greener, cleaner driving is about making small, smart decisions every day to lower the amount of fuel consumed and emissions your car generates. Whether you’re driving a compact car or a long-haul truck, apply defensive tactics on the road, use modern car tech, and minimize aerodynamic drag. You’ll achieve more than fuel efficiency. Your vehicle’s lifespan will increase, and emissions will drop, thereby helping to prevent climate change.