Gas Mileage Tips from the Government

From the U.S. Department of Energy come the following sensible Gas Mileage Tips:

Drive more efficiently

Drive Sensibly

Aggressive driving (speeding, rapid acceleration and braking) wastes gas. It can lower your gas mileage by 33 percent at highway speeds and by 5 percent around town. Sensible driving is also safer for you and others, so you may save more than gas money.

Fuel Economy Benefit: 5-33%
Equivalent Gasoline Savings: $0.20-$1.35/gallon

Observe the Speed Limit

While each vehicle reaches its optimal fuel economy at a different speed (or range of speeds), gas mileage usually decreases rapidly at speeds above 60 mph.

How about a car that gets 300 MPG!

No, your eyes aren’t deceiving you! There’s a new “car” that really can get 300MPG while seating two adults – it’s called the Aptera Typ-1. It’s really a motorcycle in disguise, but with additional safety and other features not usually found in 2-wheelers.

Based on our wheel layout and … weight, the Aptera Typ-1 is registered as a motorcycle.

Get a more fuel efficient car – the top 10

Decided to trade in that old gas guzzler for something a bit more fuel efficient? Then check out this top 10 list by caranddriver.com of the most fuel-efficient vehicles in the U.S.:

• Toyota Prius
• Honda Civic Hybrid
• Smart Fortwo
• Nissan Altima Hybrid
• Toyota Camry Hybrid
• Volkswagen Jetta TDI
• Ford Escape Hybrid
• Toyota Yaris
• Mini Cooper/Clubman
• Honda Fit

Read the full article here.

The Canadians are Auto$mart!

The Canadian Office of Energy Efficiency has some great guides, videos and tips for more efficient driving and gas saving. As they so succinctly put it:

Your driving habits – when and where you drive, how often, the speed you travel, your aggressiveness on the road and other factors – have a lot to do with your vehicle’s fuel consumption and costs.

They break it down to these 9 main tips:

1. Plan trips carefully.
2. Use public transit whenever possible.
3. Avoid aggressive driving.
4. Drive at the posted speed limit.
5. Keep idling to a minimum.

6 Gas-saving Myths

According to CNN, these are 6 common gas-saving myths:

1. Fill your tank in the morning
2. Change your air filter
3. Use premium fuel
4. Pump up your tires
5. To A/C or not A/C
6. Bolt-ons and pour-ins

Read the full article for the answers and rebuttals to these myths – and then decide for yourself!