Balancing your budget-- from household, food, travel, to otherwise--is a challenge we all face with trepidation now more than ever. But fret not, there are work-around strategies you can employ to make the most of your hard-earned peso. So, when it comes to saving and stretching your fuel fund, we’ve got you covered. Take your cues here on how to achieve the best possible fuel economy from your vehicle now.
Travel as Lightly as Possible, But With Company
Weight can be a deterrent to true efficiency. Double check your trunk and declutter as needed. No need to drive around with your golf clubs or bicycle in the trunk if you aren’t going to use them within the day. At the same time, it’s a shame to waste your unused seating space if you can carpool with friends or family. Sharing trips can cut the amount of fuel spent on each passenger by 50-75%. Of course, as these are truly unique times, physical distancing--even inside the vehicle while in transit--is a must.
Timing is Everything
The first step to saving fuel comes before you even step in the car. Planning and scheduling your trips to avoid rush hour and traffic hotspots save you stress, time, and fuel. Remember: every moment spent sitting in traffic means you’re getting zero kilometers per liter! But when it can’t be avoided, it’s always better if you know your vehicle is engineered with certain technologies that supply you a one-of-a-kind edge. Case in point: Toyota’s Hybrid Synergy Drive. This hi-tech drivetrain tech has two power sources and the hybrid system intelligently combines the two for the optimal balance of fuel efficiency and performance. And contrary to the popular misconception, hybrids don’t need to be plugged in before use, as you gas them up similar to a regular car.
Being stuck in bumper-to-bumper traffic would no longer be bad from the standpoint of money-saving (and the environmental-kind, too) because Toyota’s Hybrid system will automatically switch to electric power at low speeds. Intuitively, when idling, the technology will sense that the vehicle has stopped. If so, it will cut the power and start back again soon as you step on the gas. Now, that’s true zero-emissions travelling in traffic.
It’s Not a Race
While spending less time on the road overall helps save fuel, every time you speed up, you’re using up energy that you won’t get back when you slow down again. Jack-rabbit driving wastes a lot more fuel than smooth, gentle acceleration, and braking. Maintaining a lower top speed on highways can increase fuel economy. On a hybrid like the Toyota Corolla Altis 1.8 HV, for example, simply lowering your cruising speed from 100 km/h to 80 km/h can raise your fuel economy from 25 kilometers per liter to around 30 kilometers per liter. While most cars see a boost in efficiency at lower speeds, the Hybrid has an extra trick up its sleeve, as the engine can turn off completely as you coast down and the self-charging battery and electric motor can take over at lower speeds, saving even more fuel.
Go With The Flow
Timing is everything. Learning to judge the rhythm of traffic is a good way to increase your fuel economy. Anticipate when the cars in front of you and around you will speed up and slow down. No need to rush to keep up with the car in front if they’re going to stop again in a few meters! Also, it pays to learn the timing of stoplights, which helps you decide whether to speed up a bit to make it through or slow down and wait for the next green.
But what about for less congested routes and highways? It’s smart to lean on the latest car technologies that can help you maneuver roads with ease and more. For instance, Toyota’s Adaptive Cruise Control, available on several of its vehicles like the Fortuner, Corolla Cross, and Corolla Altis, helps you automatically keep distance, giving you more time to coast to stop safely. This results to fewer instances of abrupt braking and speeding up, which will translate to better fuel economy.
Give Way
Plain and simple: rushing up to fill spaces, or cutting between lanes and overtakes are unnecessary moves that waste gas, and don’t really get you from one point to another faster. Give way, be courteous, and continue to drive smoothly, and not only will you save fuel, but you’ll save yourself (and others!) a lot of stress, as well.
Idling Is Never A Good Idea
Letting your engine run while your car is parked and you don’t really need to move and cover distance is a practice we should all unlearn. It’s wasteful and unnecessary: idling is a misuse of your car battery, your motor oil, and of course, your fuel, among other things. Additionally, idling often can result in your head gasket, cylinder rings and spark plugs to decline in function and integrity. So, if it can be helped, smarten up, park safely, and shut it down.
Keep Your Car in Top Condition
Like any machine, proper maintenance is key to reliable and optimal performance. Properly inflated tires, for one, pay dividends in terms of lower rolling resistance, higher fuel economy, and less wear and tear. Over the long run, a well-maintained car saves you money, not just in fuel, but in retained value and useful life, as well. In fact, many Toyota models now come with free 20,000km periodic maintenance for hassle-free and worry-free ownership!
If you’re interested in really maximizing your fuel economy, a Toyota Hybrid vehicle is definitely something worth considering as your next car. Toyota Motor Philippines now offers Hybrid variants of the Corolla Cross and of the Corolla Altis, as well as the immensely popular Prius and Prius C. To find out more about how Hybrids work and their benefits, visit www.toyota.com.ph/hybrid and check out the animated video below:
