Techniques for Drivers to Conserve Fuel

Fleet drivers can conserve fuel by learning how driving behaviors affect fuel economy and by adopting techniques to save fuel and money. The amount of fuel your vehicle consumes depends heavily on how you drive. See the information below and FuelEconomy.gov for information about driving efficiently.

Slow Down

Speeding increases fuel consumption and decreases fuel economy. Fuel is required to provide the energy necessary to overcome resistance from air and tire rolling. While vehicles reach optimal fuel economy at different speeds, gas mileage usually decreases rapidly at speeds above 50 miles per hour (mph). For example, every 5 mph you drive over 50 mph is like paying $0.14 more per gallon of gas (based on the price of gas at $2.04 per gallon).

Drive Conservatively

Driving conservatively can help your fleet save fuel and money. Vehicles use the most energy when accelerating. Gentle and well-timed acceleration and braking can improve the fuel economy of your vehicle by 33% on the highway and 5% in the city. Driving more sensibly is also safer for you and others.

Combine Trips

Combining trips can save you time and money by avoiding unnecessary stopping and starting of your vehicle, which can be an issue in colder climates where it takes longer for your engine to reach its most fuel-efficient temperature. Shorter trips can use twice as much fuel as one long, multi-purpose trip covering the same distance when the engine is warm. For information on how cold weather affects fuel economy, see FuelEconomy.gov’s Fuel Economy in Cold Weather page.

Reduce Vehicle Load

The additional weight of items left in a vehicle requires more fuel to propel your vehicle. Offload any unnecessary items to reduce the fuel consumption of your vehicle.

Maintain Your Vehicle

Maintaining vehicles properly can improve fuel economy up to 40%. Devices and additives claiming to improve fuel economy and reduce pollution are usually not legitimate.

Get Feedback

Drivers may find it difficult to recognize opportunities to conserve fuel while driving. A 2015 study by the National Center for Sustainable Transportation found that instantaneous or in-vehicle feedback affects driver behavior and improves fuel economy on average of 5.6% and can result in even greater driving improvements when added to driver training. Vehicle manufacturers are increasingly providing instant driver feedback through in-vehicle displays. For example, Honda's Eco Assist feature involves a sophisticated feedback system that teaches drivers how to drive more efficiency and what behaviors affect their fuel economy. The Toyota Prius also provides a multi-information display, including driving behavior feedback on driver actions that affect gas mileage and eco savings records that show how much the driver is saving on gas each month from eco-driving behaviors. Aftermarket feedback devices are also available and can be added to existing vehicles.