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It is easier to improve your fuel economy than most people think.  Most people do not realize how they drive can directly influence their fuel economy.  With over 65 percent of U.S. and Canadian households owning two or more cars, our recent gasoline price hikes has forced us to rethink our driving habits. According to U.S. Department of Transportation, the average Americans drives an average of 29 miles and can spend somewhere around 55 minutes a day in a car.

A surprising fact is that the national average miles per gallon for cars is around 24.4 miles per gallon, which is the lowest since 1986 when the nation’s overall average was about 25.9 miles per gallon.  With fuel efficient 4 cylinder cars it is surprising to hear that the numbers are actually going backwards and not forward.

As a group, people in North America have taken cheap gas for granted. Inexpensive fuel costs have allowed us the freedom to jump in our cars and go anywhere we want. The good news is that there are ways to increase gas mileage and get more from your gasoline buying dollars. With just a few minor driving adjustments, and a change in driving mentality we can still enjoy our driving freedom and save some money in the process.

First and foremost driving more sensibly is how to increase the gas mileage you are currently getting. If you are an aggressive driver who enjoys speeding, the thrill of high acceleration and high breaking, you are actually wastes gas. Most fuel is wasted by unnecessary high speed accelerations or high speed braking.  If you condition yourself to press your gas pedal less often the more money you will save.  When going down a hill, coast.  Do not brake excessively and then find yourself needing to hit the gas.  Whenever you are driving at highway speeds this type of driving can lower your gas mileage by 33 percent

Many of us cruise around town with no particular destination in mind thereby wasting fuel.  We waste gas by at least 5 percent each year by just cruising around. This 5 to 33 percent waste can result in a 7 cent to 49 cents a gallon wasted money. If you own a car with a 15 - 20 gallon tank, the amount of waste quickly adds up and after just a few fill ups you can see a dramatic difference.

Make sure you are aware of the speed limit when you are driving.  By adhering to the speed limit you will save a lot of money. Gas mileage lowers quickly when you are driving at speeds that are above 60 mph. As a rule of thumb, for every 5 mph that is driven over 60 mph, you are paying an extra 10 cents per gallon.
I have found that using cruise control on the highway helps you to maintain a constant speed which can help you save money on gas.  Cruise control is an excellent way to save fuel, but also be aware that using it while going up or down hills can affect your overall gas performance.  I like to make sure that I control my speeds on hills to really help save fuel.

Consolidating all of your trips and errands will cut down on the driving time which will result in your own gasoline discount.

Have you taken a look in your car’s trunk?  How much space is taken up by unneeded or worse yet garbage? Take the time to clean out that trunk because the heavier the load in your car is, the more gasoline you use.  We understand that some things are important, first aid kit, small roadside tool kit but make sure the stuff you carry is actually needed or useful.

Summer time rolls along and people start to use the air conditioner and this culprit actually uses more fuel then having the windows down.  Try to use your air conditioner sparingly as A/C puts more force on the engine and uses approximately 20% more fuel as a result.

Making these sensible adjustments to your driving habits will help you get the most from your car’s fuel economy.  Making better driving decisions will not only help you get the best miles per gallon of gas, but will also make you a much better and safer driver.

Most people complain about the price they pay at the pumps but they ignore one of the biggest gas savings solutions around.  Tuning up your car and making sure it is running properly is not only a smart idea for increasing the life of the vehicle, but tuning your car up can save you a lot of money at the gas pumps.  It stands to reason, that a car with a new fuel filter, air filter, spark plugs, correct tire pressure and the like, will drastically improve your fuel economy.  People forget that running a car when the tire pressure is low actually creates more drag and friction, or when the air filter is plugged it prevents your engine from getting the proper fuel to air mixture which can result in your fuel not burning properly.

Make sure that your cars engine is tuned and running properly.  Fixing a car’s engine that is out of tune or one that has failed an emissions test can result in a gas mileage improvement of about 4 percent.

Replacing a clogged air filter can improve gas mileage by as much as 10 percent. If you think about it in terms of money, that 10 percent is the equivalent of nearly 15 cents a gallon in actual gasoline savings. Since most cars have a 15 - 20 gallon tank, that amount of savings begins to add up. A car’s air filter prevents impurities from hurting the inside of the engine as well as allowing the car to get the optimum fuel to air mixture.  The right fuel to air mixture allows as much gasoline to be burnt and turned into energy as possible from your car’s engine.

Tire maintenance can also result in gas mileage improvements. Low tire pressure tends to make the car work harder on the roads by causing more friction and drag.  If you keep your tires inflated at their proper pressure you can improve gas mileage by about 3 percent. This can translate into a savings of up to 5 cents a gallon. You can check with the manufacturer of your vehicle for the recommended tire pressure.

Another very important thing you can do, is to keep fuel mileage records.  If a problem arises you will notice a drop in fuel economy which allows you to be proactive in finding a solution.  Getting a regular tune up may mean that you will spend less money in the long run. If you don’t get a tune up regularly, your gas money problems could just end up being the least of your problems.

Maintaining your vehicle is simple to do and can save you more money in the long run by preventing expensive repairs and of course potentially huge fuel savings.  When watching the prices of oil and gas increase make sure you have done all that you can to ensure that your car is running optimally.

We have shown you how you can make your car last longer and you can save up to 17% on your fuel bill on each and every tank. During the course of your cars life these savings can really add up.

 

I think this is one of the most important movies to watch this year. 

With gasoline prices escalating almost daily, fossil fuel shortages, unrest in the oil producing countries of the world and the move towards the hybrid electric cars (Over 140,000 Prius’ sold in the first half of 2006), this story couldn’t be more relevant. The foremost goal of Who Killed the Electric Car is to educate and enlighten audiences with the story of this car, its place in history and in the larger story of our car culture and how it enables our continuing addiction to foreign oil. This is an film holds an important message that not only calls to task the officials who abolished the Zero Emission Vehicle mandate, but all of the other accomplices, government, the car companies, Big Oil, even Eco-darling Hydrogen as well as consumers, who turned their backs on the car and embrace embracing instead the SUV. This documentary investigates the death and resurrection of the electric car, as well as the role of renewable energy and sustainable living in our country’s future.

These issues affect everyone person on the planet today from progressive liberals to the neo-conservative right.

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Isn’t it strange that major companies on this planet are not looking for what is best for the world.  Companies that are profess their desire to help the planet, and the planets eco system are tirelessly working behind the scenes to prevent competitors get an advantage, thereby putting our planet at risk.  People need to watch this film and learn the truth behind the electric car and why some very powerful people wish to prevent its success.