In my popular book Beat High Gas Prices Now! I offer many ways you can save $20 to $50 per month at the pump. Here are 11 of the easiest opportunities you have right now to beat higher gas prices– without buying a new, more fuel-efficient car or giving up driving altogether.

How to Beat Higher Gas Prices

⇒Drive Less

⇒Drive Smarter

⇒Get a Tune Up

Drive Less – The single best way to spend less money at the pump is by buying less gas. The best way to avoid buying gas is by not driving.

Note that I don’t say, use Uber or Lyft. If prices rise enough, car services and taxis will charge an “emergency surcharge” or some other fee to cover their own increased gas costs.

BONUS: Burning one gallon of gasoline generates almost 20 pounds of carbon dioxide (CO2), a potent greenhouse gas that is causing climate change. When you drive less, you generate a lot less CO2, so not only are you saving money but you’re doing your part to stop climate change, too.

1-Telecommute -If there ever was a time to work from home, this is it. You’ll spend nothing on gasoline and save a lot of travel time that you can use for either work or leisure. If your company already has a telecommute policy, take advantage of it. If not, ask your boss if you can work from home a couple of days a week as long until the prices at the pump come down.

2-Car Pool – If you still need to go to a physical work location, find a couple of people to carpool with. Four people sharing a ride keeps three cars off the road, and shares the price of gasoline four ways.

The iCarPool.com mobile app makes it easy to find a ride to share. So do Ridefinders.com, eRideShare.com, and Waze Carpool.

BONUS: Carpool lanes are usually faster than regular lanes used by only one person per car.

3-Use Mass Transit – If your community has a decent subway, bus or light rail system, now is the time to use it. Subways and light rail systems are electrified, so fares should not be affected by higher gas prices.

4-Walk and Bicycle – I have been car-less for about four months now and have been surprised by how easy it is to walk to many places I used to drive to. If you want to walk to the grocery store, invest in a cart on wheels so it’s easy to get your groceries home.

Drive Smarter – The way we drive has a big impact on how much gasoline our vehicle uses.

You can get many more miles to the gallon if you do the following:

5-Drive the Speed Limit – In addition to being safer, driving the speed limit saves gas. How much? Every 5 mph you drive above 60 mph is like paying an additional $0.10 per gallon for gasoline.

6-Don’t be a “Jack Rabbit” – Hopping in and out of traffic, speeding up, slowing down and weaving from one lane to the other wastes gas because all that acceleration and deceleration uses the engine so inefficiently. Plus, it doesn’t really shave that many minutes off your arrival time.

7-Plan Your Route – People waste a lot of gas taking the long way to their destination or not knowing where they’re going in the first place. Use Waze or the GPS device on your phone or in your car to find the shortest route. When possible, travel during non-rush hour.

8-Stop Idling – “Idling” – when you sit in your car with the gear in “park” and the engine running, going nowhere – is another word for wasting gas. Just. Don’t. Do. It. You use a lot more gasoline idling than if you turn the car off for a couple of minutes then on when you’re ready to give. Skip long drive-through lines. If you go to pick someone up, turn off the engine while you wait for them to come out.

Focus on Your Vehicle – Maintain the engine, tires, and air filters to improve fuel efficiency.

9-Change Your Oil and Get a Tune Up – Improve gas mileage by an average of 4.1 percent by maintaining your vehicle in top condition. That may include changing the air filters and replacing the spark plugs.

10-Pump Up Your Tires – You can beat higher gas prices and improve gas mileage by around 3.3% by keeping your tires inflated to the proper PSI. If you don’t know what your PSI is, you can find it on the inside of the car’s front door.

Need a gauge to check your tire pressure? Here are some good ones.

11-Remove the Roof Rack and Extra Weight in the Trunk – A roof rack creates wind resistance, which means your car needs more gas to move forward.

Extra weight in the trunk also puts more strain on the engine to do its job.

Don’t treat your trunk like a storage facility, and don’t leave the roof rack on if you’re not using it.

No matter what the price of gas is, burning it is like burning money (except it has a much bigger impact on climate change).

Hurricane Harvey has reminded us just how dependent on gas we can be if we don’t get smart about how we use it.

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When you were learning to drive, were you taught anything about ways to save gas? Probably not. Yet transportation contributes 14% to total global greenhouse gas emissions. Fumes and air pollutants coming out of vehicle tail pipes are one of the biggest sources of smog and dirty air, too.  I’d love to see driver’s ed programs include information on driving efficiently and cleanly for new drivers. Until then, we’ve teamed up with DrivingOffice.com, which helps new drivers in my home state of Michigan pass their driver’s test by taking the Michigan permit practice test. Here are 10 ways to save gas this summer you need to know, whether you’re new to the wheel or have a lot of miles under your tires.

1-Follow the 10-second rule before you idle your car.

It’s easy to think you’re only stopping for a short time when you idle in park, and not worth turning the engine off.

The truth is that, any time the engine is on and you’re not moving, you’re wasting gas and money.

In fact, idling a car for as little as ten seconds actually uses more fuel than turning off the engine and restarting it. If you spend five minutes idling, you’ll waste a perfectly good gallon of gas!

When Should You Turn Off Your Car?

⇒Turn the car off when you’re stuck at a railroad crossing, or waiting to pick someone up at school or their house, and skip the drive-throughs when the lines are long.

⇒Turn off your car when you’re waiting for a pick-up if it’s going to take longer than 10 seconds to get your goods.

⇒Never idle at a school, especially when you’re waiting to pick up little kids. You’ll just be filling the air with toxic fumes they shouldn’t have to breathe.

Don’t Miss: Ways to Save $20 – $50 Every Month on Gasoline

2-Drive at a constant speed.

The more you accelerate quickly and brake suddenly, the more fuel you use.

How should you start and stop?

⇒Don’t be a “jack rabbit.” Ease up to a stop sign or stop light then ease away at a moderate speed.

3-Drive the speed limit.

Obviously, you want to drive the speed limit to avoid getting a ticket.

Driving the speed limit will keep you alive, too, since speeding leads to so many accidents.

But driving faster than 65mph gobbles up gas, too. In fact, driving at a speed of 85 mph uses 40% more fuel than if you drove at 70 mph.

How fast should you drive?

⇒Stick to the posted speed limit.

⇒Drive 65 on the highway to use a lot less fuel.

4-Keep your car tires properly pumped up.

Not having enough air in your car tires can reduce the number of miles you get per gallon of gasoline by 3%. That may not sound like a lot, but it could amount to as much oil as is in the pristine Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Instead of destroy that wilderness, we can all simply keep our tires pumped up to the proper psi, or pounds per square inch.

When should you pump up your tires?

⇒ A good rule of thumb is to check the tire pressure every time the seasons change, so maybe four times a year. If you don’t know the psi, it’s easily found on a little sticker right inside the door jamb of the front driver’s-side door.

Keep a tire pressure gauge in the glove compartment of the car so it’s easy to check the tire pressure.

5-Change the oil regularly and get an annual tune up.

Maintaining your vehicle is important for lots of reasons. Cars tend to have a longer life if they are well maintained. They also run more efficiently, which means you do not have to buy as much fuel.

How often should you get an oil change?

⇒Read your vehicle manual, but most manufacturers recommend an oil change every 3,000 – 5,000 miles. You can find lots of coupons online for discounts that will bring oil change costs down to only around $20 bucks a pop.

⇒Tune ups are recommended annually.

6-Use air conditioning instead of opening windows.

You may think that opening the windows in your car, instead of using air conditioning, is a good idea. But it turns out that the opposite is true. Open windows increase the amount of drag, which means that open windows in a fast-moving car actually slow the car down, so you end up using more gas than you would if the air conditioning was switched on.

When to use AC?

⇒Use the AC when you’re traveling at speeds above 40 mph on the highway. You can use the lowest fan setting and keep cool air circulating to make it comfortable.

⇒Roll the windows down when you’re just driving around town at lower speeds.

⇒Use a windshield shade to reflect sunlight away from your car and keep internal temperatures cooler.

7-Carpool and share the gas – and the cost.

Carpools are a great idea. Not only do you save on the cost of gas, because you use your vehicle less frequently; you also get to chat with a group of friends during the journey.

8-Combine trips and use apps to shorten distances traveled.

If you do not plan your week effectively, you can end up driving a greater distance than required. If you need to go to the doctor and the mall, and they are both in the same direction, go to both on the same journey where possible. As a result, you drive a shorter distance and you save on the cost of extra fuel.

What apps are the best for creating gas-saving travel routs?

⇒Waze is popular, but Google Maps is great, too!

9-Park where you are

How many times have you driven around for a while, looking for a parking space that is closer to your destination? If you are able, it’s a much better idea to park in the first spot you can, and simply walk a little further. You end up saving money and time.

What apps make parking quick and easy?

Parking Panda

Park Whiz

Best Parking

10-Put your car on a diet.

Many people keep too much stuff in their car. Extra weight makes the vehicle heavier, increasing fuel consumption.

⇒De-clutter your vehicle and save money on gas. If you’re not going to use it, don’t keep it in the trunk or on the roof rack.

NOTE: Sponsors and partnerships like these allow us to bring you expert content at no cost to you. All editorial opinions expressed are our own. Thanks!

The post New Driver? The 10 Ways to Save Gas This Summer You Need to Know appeared first on Big Green Purse.

Meanwhile, not only are you spending, and maybe even wasting money, but the gas you burn releases carbon dioxide (CO2) into the atmosphere. All that CO2 build-up is causing climate change, and we know what a serious problem that’s become (extreme storms, drought, poison ivy, etc.).

Still, you need to get to where you have to go. How can you do that and actually use less gas? We’ve partnered with Halfords, a UK-based automotive services company, to bring you 12 of the best ways to improve the gas mileage of your vehicle, reduce its environmental impact, and use less gas every day. Here you go!

How to Use Less Gas Every Day

⇒ Don’t be a show off, a hot head, or a jack rabbit like the guy in the picture. In other words, drive the speed limit (or the speed you need to drive to stay in traffic safely). Avoid quick starts and stops, use cruise control to maintain an even speed, and don’t tail gate. Being in a hurry is a prescription for wasting gas (and possibly an accident).

⇒ Check the tire pressure on your tires at least every season. You can improve gas mileage by around 3.3 percent by keeping your tires inflated to the proper pressure. Don’t know what that is? Check your driver’s manual, or the label on the inside of your front seat door jamb. Tire pressure responds to outdoor temperatures, so make sure to check the pressure when the weather turns cold or hot. Checking the pressure will also tell you whether you have a slow leak and need a repair.

Need a tire pressure gauge? They’re cheap to buy and easy to use. Here are a variety of options. 

⇒ Change the oil based on the recommendation of the manufacturer. Changing oil after 3,000 miles used to be standard, but really, follow the directions in your vehicle’s owner’s manual. It might be 3,000 miles, but it’s more likely 5,000 or even 7,500. The key is to change the oil when it’s needed to keep the oil running smoothly and efficiently. Here’s what cars.com recommends.

Another good tip: Halfords recommends checking the amount of oil you have in your engine. Too little oil can reduce the life of the engine and eventually require expensive repairs if piston walls get scratched, valves rub down and oil gets into the combustion chamber. In a recent survey they conducted, the company found that 25% of drivers in the UK don’t check to see whether their car’s oil levels are adequate.

⇒ Get a regular tune up. Keeping the engine and related parts (like spark plugs) in good working order can improve your gas mileage by an average of 4.1 percent. While the car is getting a tune up, check the air filters to see if they need to be replaced, another action that can save you money and improve fuel efficiency so you will use less gas every day.

⇒ Don’t top off the gas tank. Many drivers like to pump a little bit more gas into their tank even after the automatic shut-off kicks in. Don’t do it. The U.S EPA says that this top layer of gas just evaporates and adds to smog rather than get you any extra miles per gallon.

⇒ Don’t idle. “Idling” is another way to say “wasting gas.” For almost all vehicles, if you’re going to be waiting anywhere for longer than 30 seconds, just turn off your ignition. If possible, skip drive-throughs, like banks, cleaners, stores, and fast food restaurants, especially if there’s a long line of vehicles ahead of you.

⇒ Take the shortest, most direct route and avoid rush hour if possible. Use Google Maps, Waze, Mapquest, or other mobile tools to help identify the shortest way to get to your destination and avoid traffic jams that could have you sitting on the highway for hours just burning gas.

⇒ Car pool, use mass transit, telecommute, and combine trips. The best way to use less gas every day is to drive less. Period. Can you telecommute a couple of days a week? Carpool with other friends or colleagues? Take the bus or the subway? Combine trips so that you get all your errands done on one outing?

Every mile or kilometer you don’t drive is another way to keep gas money in your pocket rather than doling it out to the pump.

⇒ Keep the roof rack clear. Unless you’re going on a vacation or are moving big items, keep your roof rack empty. Piling things on top of your car creates aerodynamic drag and can affect fuel economy. Keep it tidy up there.

⇒ Lighten the load in the trunk or boot of the car. Carrying an extra 110 lb (50 kg) in your car can increase your fuel bill by 2%.

⇒ Use sun reflectors to keep the car cooler inside. On hot days, especially if your car’s interior is black, it can get extremely hot in the vehicle. Many drivers immediately want to crank up the air conditioning, which is an energy hog.

Instead, use sun reflectors to lower internal temperatures. Keep a window cracked so air can circulate. When you get in the car, leave the doors open for a couple of minutes to let hot air escape.

There are lots of sun reflectors to choose from. You can get an idea of your options here.

⇒ Turn on the AC when driving in hot temperatures at high speeds. It can be fun to drive with the windows down, but open windows decrease a vehicle’s aerodynamics at higher speeds. If you’re driving around town, open windows are fine. At higher speeds, use the AC.

NOTE: Partners like Halfords enable us to bring you expert content at no cost to you. Our editorial opinions remain our own.

The post 12 Things You Should Do Right Now to Use Less Gas Every Day appeared first on Big Green Purse.

On Valentine’s Day, you express your love by sending flowers, by showing kindness and consideration, and by reflecting on who you love and why.

You do that on Car Free Day, too. Though in this case, the object of your love is your community, and instead of delivering roses, you don’t drive your car, or you share the ride.

OK, maybe that’s a stretch. But not a big one. Air pollution generated by cars is one of the leading causes of poor air quality and a major contributor to asthma, heart disease and climate change.

Driving also wastes a lot of time. According to Clean Air Partners, people lose 70+ hours a year sitting in traffic jams! Not to mention all that time we spend driving to and from work when we could be sharing a ride with friends and family or relaxing at home with those we love instead.

Going car free is just about the best way to show your love for the planet – and for yourself, your family and your neighbors, too. You can drive less, save some money, and make life better for pretty much everyone you love.

When is Car Free Day?

Car Free Day is September 22, and just like Valentine’s Day, it’s celebrated around the world, with more than 40 countries and 1,500 cities all committed to encouraging commuters to try something new and go car free or share the ride.

Clean Air Partners, our air quality organization partner, is encouraging you to drive less and has pulled together a terrific list of ways you can celebrate the day.

Making a change has never been this easy. Their ideas for alternative transportation options across the D.C. region can likely be applied to wherever you live, as well.

How to Celebrate Car Free Day

Take the Pledge – Join hundreds of other residents of the D.C. area in pledging to go car free. Taking the pledge automatically enters you into drawings for lots of great prizes, including gift cars to use at supermarkets, on the subway, at restaurants, and even a one-year gym membership.

Bike to Work – You’ll avoid traffic headaches and parking will be a breeze! Plus, you won’t need to buy gas. Here in the greater metro Washington D.C. area, you can put your bike on the subway, then bike from the metro to your job, or take one of the many bike paths available in northern Virginia, d.C. and Maryland.

Walk – If you walked to your destination two days a week, you personally would help remove 1,600 pounds of pollution in just one year. Plus, it’s good for your health. Burn calories, not gas! Use MapMyWalk to find your route.

Rideshare – Instead of driving your own vehicle, carpool with friends and co-workers. You’ll improve air quality, get to know people in your community better, and still do your part for climate change. If four people share a ride instead of each one driving a car, you’ve reduced your environmental impact by 75 percent! Use Commuter Connections to find a ride.

Take the Bus – Eliminating one car per household and utilizing public transportation can save families $10,000 per year. Use Car Free Day to figure out the nearest bus stop and the route that will get you to your job without much fuss.

Ride a Train – Urban and suburban areas often benefit from commuter trains that offer a great alternative to driving. Is Car Free Day the day you finally buy a train ticket instead of gasoline or a road toll?

Telework – Save time and hassle getting to work by staying home. Plus, work in your pj’s all day if you want to.

Tell the World – Whatever you do, don’t keep it to yourself! Pledge to go Car Free on #CarFreeDay and encourage your community to show some love to their community. Use your social media and the hashtag #CarFreeDay to brag about your good deeds to your friends, family, and colleagues on Twitter and Facebook.

The post Why Car Free Day is Better Than Valentine’s Day (Almost) appeared first on Big Green Purse.

Most people wouldn’t put a pile of money on their driveway and set it on fire. But when you drive, you’re essentially burning money. Regardless of whether gas prices are high or low, because we’re traveling more, we’re all burning more money via our gas tanks than ever before. It doesn’t have to be that way. You can save $20 – $50 every month on gasoline by following these six steps.

1) Drive LESS. How? Walk, especially if you’re traveling distances less than a mile and don’t need to carry heavy loads. Bike. More than half of all commuting trips are 5 miles or less in length, a distance easily covered by two wheels rather than four. Scoot, with an electric scooter that costs far less to charge than it does to fuel up a car with gas. Get organized, so you can combine trips and chores rather than going back and forth to do them. Pay your bills and shop online. That includes using grocery delivery services if they’re available in your area. Carpool. Share the drive and share the bill. Avoid rush hour. Telecommute, go to work early and leave early, or look for other ways to avoid the worst times of the day to be in a car. Because when you’re just sitting in traffic, you’re just burning money.

2) Drive SMART. What does “smart” mean? More or less, it’s what you learned when you took driving lessons all those years ago before you even got your driver’s license. Start with the speed limit. Stick to it. The U.S. Department of Energy says that every 5 mph you drive above 50 mph can lower gas mileage by 7% or more. That could amount to as much as $.52 a gallon! Slow down a little and put the money in the bank. Plus, turn the car off rather than idle. Idling gets zero miles per gallon; if that’s not a waste of gas and money, I don’t know what is! Don’t be a “jackrabbit” and speed up only to have to slow down in between stop signs and traffic signals. As for tailgating, it can cost you 1-2 percent in fuel efficiency. What a waste.

3) Drive CHEAP. In most cases, your engine can tolerate the cheapest gas you can find. Get to know where gas costs less and buy yours there. The GasBuddy mobile app makes it easy to find the cheapest gas on your driving route every day. Don’t top off your tank. Not only will you waste money, but that “extra” evaporates pretty quickly, contributing to air pollution. Pay cash. It can be ten or twenty cents a gallon cheaper than paying by credit card. Use gas rewards programs. I earn gas points at my grocery store that I can use to lower the price I pay at the pump by ten, twenty and even thirty cents a gallon.

4) Drive IN TUNE. You’ll improve your gas mileage by an average of 4.1 percent when you get a tune up. Most cars need an oil change every 3,000 – 5,000 miles, too. If that’s too frequent for you, join Groupon, Living Social, or another social shopping site. You’ll find many affordable tune-up and oil change promotions that cut the service costs significantly.  While you’re at it, replace air filters regularly to get another 10 percent gain in fuel efficiency. Checking the oxygen sensor is smart, too. That’s the engine’s fuel control feedback loop. Repairing one that’s faulty could benefit your gas mileage as much as 40 percent.

5) Drive PUMPED UP. Gas mileage will improve by around 3.3 percent if you keep your tires properly inflated. Check your owner’s manual for appropriate inflation levels. You can buy a tire pressure gauge at your local hardware store and check your tires each time the seasons change. Then fill up your tires when you get gas.

6) Drive a GAS STRETCHER. Drive the most fuel-efficient vehicle that meets your transportation needs as well as your budget. If you’re in a family with two cars, use the one that gets the most mpg for the majority of your trips. If you’re in the market for a new car, check the rebates and tax incentives available to encourage people to purchase hybrids and electric cars, rather than those that depend exclusively on fossil fuels.

All of these actions can add up to big savings. An added benefit? Using less gas is a lot better for the environment, since burning gasoline contributes to air pollution, climate change and smog.

So drive less, get smart, be cheap, tune in, pump up and stretch.

Unless of course you have money to burn.

MORE GREAT INFORMATION:

Save Energy, Stop Climate Change, Save Money

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One drawback of some electric hybrid vehicles is what is called “range anxiety.” It’s the worry drivers feel that their car won’t go far enough on its electric battery. The Toyota Prius Plug-In can travel only 10-15 miles on a fully charged battery; the Ford Fusion Hybrid Plug-In, only 19 miles; and Ford’s C-Max Energi Plug-In, 21 miles. The 2015 Chevy Volt has turned those numbers on their head by creating an electric car that offers 50 miles of EV (electric) range per fully-charged battery.

The 2015 Volt was unveiled last week in Detroit at the North American International Auto Show (full disclosure: I was a guest of General Motors, but under no obligation to give any of their vehicles a favorable review). I haven’t had a chance to test drive it yet, so I can’t speak to how it performs on the road. But I did take a look at the specs and get behind the wheel, and I liked a lot of what I saw.

My first priority is fuel efficiency. I want to use the least amount of gasoline possible, given the impact burning gas has on climate change and air pollution. In that regard, the Volt offers the distinct possibility of never having to buy gasoline unless you’re taking it on a long trip. “Volt owners complete more than 80 percent of their trips without using a drop of gasoline,” said Andrew Farah, vehicle chief engineer. Even when gas is used to extend the vehicle’s range (which is how a plug-in hybrid works), drivers are expected to be able to travel more than 1,000 miles on average between gas fill-ups, for an average fuel efficiency of 41 mpg.

After fuel efficiency, I want a car with uncomplicated technology and enough performance to make highway driving uncomplicated. The Volt seems to deliver. It is easy to recharge the battery using a standard 120 Volt outlet; the battery can be recharged any time it’s needed, but most drivers recharge it overnight and on the weekends when their electricity rates are particularly low. A 120V portable cord conveniently stores on the left side of the Volt’s rear cargo area for easy accessibility. It’s also easy to keep track of how much charge is left in the battery, so the driver knows in advance when the car will switch over to gasoline mode. As for performance, the car can go from zero to 60 mph in 8.4 seconds, which seems plenty fast to me.

Safety is also on my priorities chart. A standard rear-vision camera now comes with the Volt to help drivers avoid backing into hard-to-see objects. The vehicle also comes with ten standard airbags, including driver and front-passenger knee air bags. Additional active safety features offer lane keep assist with lane departure warning, side blind zone alert with lane change alert, front automatic braking, and advanced park assist, among several other benefits.

What about design? If you’re looking for something with a sleek, sporty design, the Volt looks the part. It seems to have an easy-to-read display panel on the dashboard, and there’s a small third seat in the back to make it possible to carry a total of 5 people in the car. I’ll have a better sense of the design features once I give it a test drive later this year.

Cost and Availability

The Volt goes on sale in the second half of 2015. It is expected to retail for around $30,000. Check state and federal rebate options to help reduce the price by a few thousand dollars.

 RELATED ELECTRIC CAR POSTS

My Test Drive of the 2011 Chevy Volt

Ford Fusion Hybrid Review 

My Test Drive of the Nissan Leaf

The post New Chevy Volt Electric Car Can Go 50 Miles on a Single Battery Charge appeared first on Big Green Purse.

PROS – NO GASOLINE

In my book, the biggest advantage an electric car offers is about what it doesn’t use – gasoline.  Burning gasoline creates carbon dioxide, one of the biggest contributors to climate change. Gas exhaust is also full of the tiny particulates that cause smog and air pollution, which means it’s directly related to asthma and even heart attacks. Drilling for the oil that’s refined into gasoline wreaks havoc on the environment: we all remember the Gulf of Mexico disaster when a BP oil rig exploded, but it turns out there are hundreds of “minor” oil spills every day that foul rivers and streams and endanger people’s health. Even though electric cars are powered by electricity that usually comes from coal-fired power plants, the cars can be charged in off-peak hours essentially using surplus energy, rather than new power produced just for them. And as more and more utilities tap into wind farms, the environmental impact of the electricity used will decrease substantially.

PROS – NO GAS STATIONS

Electric vehicles (EVs) can be charged in your garage, at home, or at the growing numbers of charging stations that are popping up at shopping malls, grocery stores, apartment buildings, and more. Pull up, plug in, and charge while you have dinner with your family or get your business or shopping done.

PROS – QUIET

One of the lovely benefits of driving an electric car is just how quiet it is. There’s no engine revving or sputtering. Step on the accelerator and off you go.

CONS – BETTER FOR DAILY COMMUTES THAN LONG DISTANCE TRIPS

Most electric vehicles can travel anywhere from 60 to 100 miles or so on a single range. People who commute to work or need to run around shopping or picking up kids from school usually find that even 60 miles in a day is a large enough range. Longer distances require the ability to recharge the battery, and that takes time.

CONS – LONG RECHARGING TIME/RANGE ANXIETY

It can take 8 hours for a battery to fully recharge, so it’s important to remember to plug in the vehicle every day or night. Drivers with access to a “quick charger” may be able to add 50 miles of range in around 20 or 25 minutes, but if a charging station isn’t available, the driver could be stuck waiting for the EV to charge adequately. Meanwhile, drivers who find themselves unexpectedly depleting their car’s battery may feel ‘range anxiety’ about whether or not they can actually arrive at their destination before being able to recharge.  Better planning will help make this less of an issue. In addition, drivers can download an app for their mobile device to help them locate the nearest charging station.

CONS – EXPENSE

The sticker price on most electric vehicles is usually higher than a comparably sized gasoline-powered vehicle. However, EVs qualify for various tax breaks that help reduce the price. Plus, the cost of electricity to charge the car will be much less than the price of gasoline. Over time, this will amount to thousands in savings that will help offset the purchase price along with the tax breaks.

My personal opinion is that the “pros” outweigh the “cons,” especially for drivers with a predictable daily commute, access to charging stations as well as one’s home electricity plugs, and the ability to take advantage of government rebates and tax credits to help reduce the purchase price.  What do you think?

NOTE: Many thanks to Citroen C Zero Hatchback, our sponsors for this post. Sponsored posts allow us to offer you expert content at no cost to you. Our editorial opinion remains our own. Thanks.

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Yet there are many other reasons why a car’s mileage could vary. Fuel economy can fluctuate not only according to the car you drive, but also to how you drive it.

You might be driving a car that is supposed to achieve 50 mpg, but if you gun the accelerator and leave the engine idling, you won’t get anywhere near such mileage in real life.

Here are a few tips to keep in mind to help you maximize your car’s fuel economy. Don’t forget that fuel efficiency leads to big money savings at the gas pump. 

1. Stick to the speed limit.

It’s a surprisingly common misconception that if you can reduce the length of your trip by driving faster, you’ll burn less fuel. In reality, you burn fuel at a more rapid pace when you exceed speeds of 65mph. Wind resistance increases at higher speeds, meaning your car has to work harder to keep up the pace. The most efficient speed you can travel is between 55 – 65mph, after which efficiency will rapidly decrease. Driving at a speed of 85mph would use 40% more fuel than if you drove at 70mph. When on the motorway, try using cruise control to maintain a safe and consistent speed. 

2. Reduce your car’s weight.

Another way to boost efficiency is by reducing your car’s weight and drag. Remove extra roof racks if you’re not using them, because these increase wind resistance. Try to eliminate extra weight from inside the car, as well. If you’ve been carrying around spare luggage or packages in the backseat or trunk, it’s time to clear them out. You can save 1% on fuel for every 45kg/99lbs that you remove from the vehicle. 

3. Avoid letting the engine run. 

In the past, cars needed some time to warm up. However, modern cars no longer need to idle before you drive them. They are ready to drive as soon as the engine is started. As we recently wrote here, letting your car idle wastes energy, so avoid any unnecessary revving or idling. Another factor to consider is that it takes up to 8km/5miles before the engine will be running at the height of its efficiency, which is why short trips use more fuel per mile or kilometre than longer distances.

4. Limit use of air conditioning.

Using your heater won’t burn too much energy, but the air conditioning is a different story. If possible, try to keep windows open at lower speeds to keep your car cool and well-ventilated. However, at speeds over 40mph, it’s better to switch on the air conditioning because the drag from the windows will cause your car to use more fuel.

5. Anticipate the road ahead.

Boosting your efficiency as a driver is all about careful, slow movements. Drive as smoothly as you can, without sudden accelerating or braking. To do this, you’ll need to keep ample space in front of you and anticipate the road ahead. It’s helpful to use GPS, sat-nav or other electronic tools to monitor roads.

By taking the time to plan your journey and drive more mindfully, you can make a world of difference in how many miles per gallon you get. No matter what type of car you drive, you can improve its mileage, use less gas, and save money at the pump by making simple changes to the way you drive.  

PHOTO CREDIT – Courtesy of a driver who uses many of the tips above to achieve incredible fuel efficiency with his vehicle, even though it is not a hybrid or plug-in!

NOTE: Underwriters of articles like these allow us to bring you expert content at no cost to you. All editorial opinions expressed are our own. Thanks!

The post 5 Ways to Use Less Gas and Save Money appeared first on Big Green Purse.

Air pollution is particularly tough on kids, reports the terrific non-profit group Moms Clean Air Force, because they actually breathe faster than grown-ups and inhale more air per pound of body weight. Some communities, like this inspiring group in Nova Scotia, Canada, have banded together to put a stop to idling at schools, sporting events, and shopping malls.

According to the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (SCDHEC.gov), idling a car for as little as ten seconds actually uses more fuel than turning off the engine and restarting it! In fact, every minute of idling uses at least 2/10 of a gallon of gas, up to about 7/10 of a gallon for an 8-cylinder engine. If you spend five minutes idling, you’ll waste a perfectly good gallon of gas. If gas costs you an average of $3.00 a gallon, that’s three bucks pretty much burned up with nothing to show for it. Do that four or five times a week, and you could waste as much as $12 or $15 – enough to buy a pizza, go see a movie, or save in your rainy day fund.

The problem increases in winter because so many drivers believe idling is a good way to warm up their engine. In fact, just the opposite is true, says SCDHEC.gov. To properly warm a vehicle’s transmission, tires, suspension, steering, and wheel bearings, it’s much better to slowly drive the car as soon as you you start it.

Sure, it’s convenient to idle, especially if you’re waiting for someone, using a drive-through window, or (ahem) parking illegally. But for cleaner air, healthier kids, and greater fuel savings, keep the idling to a minimum.

WHAT CAN YOU DO TO STOP IDLING ENGINES?

* If you’re going to be stopped at a traffic light, traffic jam or railroad crossing for longer than ten seconds, turn off the engine. (Don’t worry – research shows that turning off the engine and then turning it on again several seconds or a minute later doesn’t damage it, despite the myth to the contrary.)

* Skip drive-throughs, especially during the busiest times of the day when start-stop traffic is likeliest to be heavy (this means mornings at drive-through donut and coffee shops, lunch time for fast food restaurants, and afterwork for banks). The one drive-through I do use is at my pharmacy; I’ve learned that a wait for the customer in front of me could take five or ten minutes, and my own service could take equally as long. It’s been easy to get in the habit of turning the car off until it’s my turn.

* Use a remote car starter sparingly. Yeah, in cold climates, it’s a real treat to get into a warm car when it’s freezing outside. But ironically, though the air might be warmer, it could actually be more polluted, as well, since outdoor emissions can filter into the car through windows and air intake vents.

* Definitely avoid idling your vehicle if you’re near a school or bus stop, recommends the U.S. EPA. Why expose children to all that dirty air?

* Keep a blanket in the car or van so the kids can cuddle up and get warm while they’re waiting for the car to do the same.

Creative Commons Photo Credit: Idling photo link

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The post Stop Idling Engines, Especially in Winter appeared first on Big Green Purse.

Your demand for more eco-friendly cars is inspiring Ford Motor Company to manufacture vehicles that get better gas mileage, use more recycled materials, tap alternative (and less polluting) fuels, and maybe even help you save energy when you’re not driving (think: washing your clothes).

I recently spent two days at the Go Further With Ford Trends Conference at Ford’s headquarters in Dearborn, Michigan, where I had a chance to see first-hand what the company is doing to reduce its environmental impact. Full disclosure: Ford paid all expenses for the trip, though did not pay me a fee, is not paying for this post, and in fact required no post at all. I saw the visit as an opportunity to see “up close and personal” what the company is doing to make good on its sustainability claims. Here’s what I found out.

Bill Ford (aka William Clay Ford, Jr., the great-grandson of company founder Henry Ford) opened the first morning briefing by calling automobile manufacturing “the ultimate disruptive industry.” That was probably the truest statement I heard over the two days I was in Dearborn. Creating vehicles that allowed people to travel long distances in relative ease changed the nature of our cities and towns, enabled other new industries to develop, even encouraged us to socialize and date in ways we couldn’t (or didn’t) in the horse and buggy era. But those same vehicles also led to a dependence on fossil fuels that has threatened our national security, polluted our air and water, and changed the climate to such a degree that the whole world is being impacted by global warming. For years, Ford has acknowledged these impacts as he’s pushed his company to manufacture cleaner combustion engines, electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids, cleaner propulsion systems, and even the use of recycled fibers and soybean-based fabrics.

These  are all steps in the right direction, but much more must be done, as the Ford scion acknowledged, starting with electric vehicles. “We need to get ubiquity of plug-in stations to overcome range anxiety,” he noted. Infrastructure devoted to cleaner, greener transportation options “is the key to changing the future.”

On a side note, Ford declared that “it would be great to have a female CEO” when Alan Mullaly, the company’s current chief executive, steps down. I completely agree!

Speaking of Alan Mullaly, at a dinner the evening before our briefings began, I had a chance to ask him what Ford was doing to teach people to drive more fuel efficiently. Mulally acknowledged that,
while Ford’s vehicles achieve high MPG under ideal driving conditions, drivers in “the real world” often sacrifice fuel efficiency for speed. A feedback feature in many Ford vehicles will now tell you exactly how much fuel you’re using when you drive, making it clear that when you speed up and slow down, tail gate, and drive erratically you’re burning fuel. Ford has also issued a Personalized Fuel Efficiency App Challenge, inviting consumers and mobile app developers to come up with technology to help drivers use less gas. You can enter up until July 24, and maybe take home a portion of the $50,000 in prize money that will be awarded to makers of the winning designs.

At a session called Sculpting the Future, J Mays, Ford’s group vice president of design and the company’s chief creative officer, noted, “The idea that cars should go vroom is an old guys story.” Today, he says, Ford is looking for a car that not just looks snazzy but gets great mileage, too. He pointed to the Fusion as a “great looking car that also gets 47 mpg.” (You can read about my Fusion test drive here.)

All this sounds well and good. But at the end of the day, as I frequently pointed out during the Trends event, Ford still makes cars – polluting vehicles that, even at 47 mpg, take too great a toll on our health, and the health of the planet.

To my surprise, John Viera, Ford’s global director for sustainability and vehicle environmental matters, pretty much agreed. The challenge, he said, is to “do more good, not just less bad.”

For starters, he said, “We need to think about how to make lifestyles more sustainable, not just
vehicles.” Viera referred to partnerships the company has developed with Whirlpool, Georgia Tech and Sunpower to get consumers like you and me thinking about saving energy everywhere we use it, including when we’re doing the laundry or heating and cooling our homes. Viera envisions a world where your cell phone connects to a smart meter in your home to help regulate your thermostat, to your car to suggest fuel-saving driving tips, and to your appliances so you can maximize their performance using the minimum amount of energy. In fact, Ford calls this the “My Energi” lifestyle. You can read an impartial analysis of the program here.

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