When it comes to trying to be green, commuting is one of the more significant challenges. While public transport, walking, or biking are perfect eco-friendly options, sometimes it’s impossible to avoid driving. According to Google trend data, drivers are trying to reduce their carbon footprint where they can; searches for “sustainable driving” have risen by 1017% in the past year. So how can you make your daily drive less of a burden on the planet?
The experts at Toyota Marin reveal their guide to making your commute as eco-friendly as possible, even when driving is unavoidable.
MAINTAIN YOUR VEHICLE
When a vehicle isn’t well-maintained, it’ll run less efficiently, burn more fuel, and produce more emissions. Regular engine tune ups can help increase efficiency, as can ensuring your tires are inflated to the correct pressure, oil is changed regularly, and air filters are replaced, as clogged air filters reduce efficiency by restricting airflow to the engine.
REMOVE UNNECCESARY WEIGHT
A lighter car requires less energy to accelerate. Removing unnecessary weight from the vehicle – items you don’t need for your everyday commute, or accessories like roof racks, if not used regularly – means you’ll be able to reduce rolling resistance, and your engine won’t have to work as hard to move, resulting in lower fuel consumption.
KEEP IT SMOOTH
Avoid hard stops and starts, as aggressive driving burns more fuel. Practising eco-driving techniques can lower your emissions, so accelerate gently and maintain a steady speed, which is more fuel-efficient than repetitive acceleration and deceleration. Idling burns fuel unnecessarily, to turn off your engine if you’re going to be stopped for more than thirty seconds.
PLAN YOUR ROUTE
Even if you’ve been making the same journey every day, using apps like Google Maps or Waze can help you avoid traffic, and find routes that are more fuel-efficient, with fewer stops and starts that increase your fuel consumption.
GO ELECTRIC…
Electric vehicles don’t use fossil fuels, nor do they produce any tailpipe emissions, which are notoriously bad for the environment. Charging a fully electric vehicle is much cheaper than fuelling a gasoline vehicle, and many governments offer financial incentives for buying an EV, as well as some regions offering perks like free parking or access to carpool lanes for EVs. Hybrid vehicles like the Toyota Prius, which is widely considered the most popular hybrid in the US, maximises fuel efficiency by switching between, or combining the two, power sources depending on driving conditions, reducing fuel costs and emissions.
…OR GO SMALLER
If an electric vehicle or a hybrid isn’t an option, make sure you choose a car with a high MPG – miles per gallon – rating. Smaller, compact cars use less fuel and produce less emissions than larger vehicles like trucks and SUVs, so you can still make an impact even if you’re not ready to go electric.
ECO-FRIENDLY OILS AND FLUIDS
It’s not just your fuel that affects the environment – choosing the right oils and fluids like coolant makes a difference too, and by choosing more eco-friendly alternatives, you can reduce the environmental footprint of your vehicle and your commute. Recycled oil reduces waste, and performs just as well as new oil, as it’s re-refined to meet the same standards. Eco-friendly oils contain additives that reduce wear on the engine and improve fuel efficiency, and are made with fewer toxic substances, making it safer for the environment when it’s disposed of.
DON’T FORGET ABOUT PARKING
It’s not just the driving – remember to be conscious of where you’re parking, too. Parking in the shade when you get to the office will keep your vehicle cooler, meaning you won’t have to rely on air conditioning so much when you get back in the car, or have to have the windows down, which can increase the drag on the vehicle and increase fuel consumption.
