Our tool for managing your permission to our use of cookies is temporarily offline. Therefore some functionality is missing.
ECO-FRIENDLY DRIVING
SUSTAINABLE OWNERSHIP.
How can drivers help the environment? When did you first consider the idea that you should change the way you’ve been driving and taking care of your car? Was it sitting in a traffic jam, watching the other vehicles through the exhaust fumes? Or when you saw a stream of soapy water wash down the drain in your driveway? Make a change for the better with our tips, which cover from before you buy your car right through to maintenance and upkeep.
TAKE A LOAD OFF YOUR CAR'S BACK.
Your car is a tool for mobility, not a storage space. Always try to keep excess baggage out of your vehicle and only take with you what you need. This lowers the car load, and by extension, its consumption, saving you money as well. Whenever you look at that surfboard fixed to the roof, or that box of books in the boot, and think “I’ll take those out next time”, make that “next time” now!
GET PUMPED UP.
If you’ve ever ridden a bicycle with poorly inflated tyres, you’ll know that it requires a lot more effort to make them go. It’s the same for your car as well. With inadequate tyre pressure you’re not just increasing fuel or energy consumption, but lowering your tyres’ life expectancy as well. So, always check your tyres – preferably monthly – and inflate car tyres when necessary.
GOING STEADY.
Maintaining a steady speed – avoiding sudden starts and stops, as well as jerky motions – decreases your fuel consumption and increases your fuel milage. Going over the speed limit is therefore not only dangerous but bad for sustainability, as it often results in a lot of braking and accelerating. Instead, you should aim to get to a cruising speed – and the appropriate gear – and try to stay there for as long as possible to save fuel. Cruise control can help you maintain speed and rest your feet as well.
BETTER TO SLOW THAN TO STOP.
Regardless of drive system, if you avoid or minimise braking situations, you can significantly reduce consumption. And on the motorway, cruising speed is the greatest factor influencing the consumption. Reducing speed by just 20 km/h, for example, can mean a saving in consumption of up to 20%. Our GREEN Mode is designed to help you save fuel and maximise range by regulating your car’s acceleration and adjusting the climate controls. Drivers who adopt an anticipatory style save costs and arrive at their destination more relaxed.
GO YOUR OWN WAY.
If you want to achieve a steady pace and not get stuck in one place for hours on end, maximise your chances of being able to avoid traffic. Use route planners before your trip, so you know where not to go. It’s better for your stress levels, as well as the planet.
COOL IT WITH THE AC.
From a big sound system to the air conditioner, most electronics in your car need additional energy to operate. So it may be a good idea to lower your windows instead of turning on the AC. Or, if you do use it, set it to a comfortable temperature – don’t try to turn the inside of your car into a freezer! However, at high speeds, a rolled down window can create a lot of drag, which can increase fuel consumption. In this case, the best compromise might be to only turn on the AC every half an hour or so, or to just use it on low power.
