How can we use less petrol? Do you want to be good at saving diesel? It seems that, with the times we live in, and those to come, we will have no choice. Here are a few tips! They are useful!
Last week, petrol rose again by 0.2 %, after a couple of weeks of falling prices, according to the European Union Oil Bulletin cited by El País, in an article that, by contrast, talks about diesel becoming cheaper for the third week in a row (1 % cheaper over those same days). The effects of the war in Ukraine, following Russia's invasion, continue to have these consequences for supplies.
But that is not all. There is also the fact that fossil fuels are running out, and that the transition towards cleaner mobility is under way, although our country, needless to say, is lagging well behind. Organisations such as Transport & Environment (T&E), it explains in this Huffington Post article, forecast a price of €2.80 per litre of petrol by 2035!
Could we end up spending twice as much on fuel? As the answer is yes, it does no harm, at least for now, to start adopting habits that, generally speaking, as well as being good practice, can at least save us fuel. Let's look at a few:
How can you save petrol when driving in town or out of town? First of all, it is important to plan the journey, knowing our route in advance, which will help us avoid detours and wasting fuel. If we know the best shortcuts, or head straight for the ring roads, even better.- Tyres matter, as they must have the correct pressure (as indicated by the manufacturer, and according to weather conditions: the colder it is, the higher the pressure).
- Driving in the highest gears our vehicle allows also helps to save on fuel. In addition, our vehicle will suffer less, so we are also looking after its maintenance. For the same reason, it is recommended both to avoid braking sharply and to drive at an appropriate, steady speed.
- You can end up using up to 6 % more with the car carrying 100 kilos of extra weight. Be careful not to turn your vehicle into a bazaar.
- Drive with all five senses alert, so as to do so smoothly, avoiding sudden movements and sharp braking (see point 3), at junctions, traffic lights, pedestrian crossings, etc.
- Only switch on the air conditioning if it is really hot, especially on dual carriageways.
- For stops lasting more than a minute, it is advisable to switch off the engine, since even when idling it keeps guzzling petrol or diesel.
- Timely maintenance of the filters – as well as the engine – will contribute to fuel efficiency.