Speakng on TikTok, @cazzatime explained: “Don’t speed. Research shows that going 80mph burns 25% more fuel than going 70mph. So stick to the speed limit.”
Driving quicker tends to use up more fuel due to increased air resistance which forces engines to work harder. Meanwhile, speed is also likely to push the engine beyond its RPM sweetspot, which can also lead to higher fuel use.
It’s also well accepted that aggressive acceleration and braking uses up more petrol and diesel than those who simply maintain a steady speed at all times.
The RAC explained: “Over the years, the speed of 56mph has often been talked about as being the optimum speed. This was due to the old fuel consumption test being run at three speeds: urban, 56mph and 75mph – and 56mph was always, unsurprisingly, the most efficient of these. Typically, cars are most efficient at 45-50mph.”
As well as speed, monitoring acceleration is also important, with motorists told to never use maximum throttle.
Graham Conway, spokesperson for Select Car Leasing previously stressed that using just “ two-thirds” throttle could be enough.
He said: “There also appears to be a sweet spot when it comes to acceleration. Going hell for leather off the lights with your foot to the floor won’t help fuel economy.
“But aiming for two-thirds of maximum throttle while getting up through the gears as quickly as you can is recommended by many.”
