A motoring expert has urged drivers to avoid travelling at a certain speed to get the best possible fuel economy figures from their cars, particularly on long road trips. Whilst the RAC has shared predictions that the cost of petrol and diesel could soon fall for the first time in five months, many drivers are still looking for simple ways to get more miles per gallon.
Gabriel Hambleton from Gold Label Car Care noted that one of the easiest methods is to know the best speed to drive at, which can improve fuel economy by 25%. He advised: “Speed plays a key role in your fuel consumption. Driving at 70mph uses up to 9% more fuel than driving at 60mph, and increasing speed further to 80mph can result in up to 25% more fuel consumption compared to driving at 70mph. Slowing down by just 10mph can make a big difference in your fuel economy when it’s safe to do so.”
While most drivers like to stay as close to the speed limit as possible when travelling on the motorway, cruising at 70mph is not always the most economical option.
This is because, even when the top gear is selected, most cars will still revve at a particularly quick pace to achieve the speed, burning more petrol or diesel in the process.
Different cars will have their own speed for the optimal fuel economy when cruising in top gear. However, this will typically be between 50 and 60mph, when the engine is revving from 1,500 to 2,500rpm.
Gabriel also suggested that drivers choose the best tyres for their vehicle, with many manufacturers producing specialist economy variants that cut the car’s rolling resistance.
He added: “Choosing eco-friendly tyres can also improve your vehicle’s fuel economy. Tyres with lower rolling resistance reduce the energy required to keep the car moving, which can help save fuel.
“Rolling resistance accounts for around 20% of a car’s fuel consumption, so going for tyres with lower resistance is an easy way to make your car more efficient.”
