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I’ve decided to write few words about Ecodriving. As far as I don’t really buy all the “greenwashed” efforts the car makers do to sell more cars, it doesn’t mean that You (We) shouldn’t try to be “greener”… We don’t have to throw away the fun cars and buy some horrid hybrid, or any green- eco- blue- line of cars to have aerodynamic tiny alloys, longer gears and body patched everywhere to cut through the air better. All this to save 5% of fuel (of course at the same time loosing extra 10 – 20% of cash when buying the car).

The key to the best efficiency is in driver’s foot. I recently watched again the Top Gear: BMW M3 vs Prius mpg test for inspiration. Also they just announced some social research results about eco-awareness among Polish drivers.

According to the research (this will be a shocker ) we spend more and more time in traffic every year. This is a fact that can hardly be changed… But the number of drivers doing ecodriving is increasing (currently 41% of drivers).

What is eco driving?

Ecodriving is a way of driving that reduces fuel consumption, greenhouse gas emissions and accident rates. Ecodriving is about driving in a style suited to modern engine technology: smart, smooth and safe driving techniques that lead to average fuel savings of 5-10%.

Ecodriving offers benefits for drivers of cars, vans, lorries and buses: cost savings and fewer accidents as well as reductions in emissions and noise levels. Several European countries have implemented successful ecodriving programmes.

Source: www.ecodrive.org

I’ve read somewhere that these values should reach about 25% (according to Ford research). Personally I know that the savings can be way higher. In my Volvo I could get the 12 -30 mpg economy – the differences can be huge. But let’s stick to realistic and average data…

So it’s about changing gears eariler, going easy on the gas, not using all the unecessary equipment in the car, closing the windows etc… (More tips about: Wikipedia)

Some other statistics

10% of people decides to make radical changes in their daily habits: choosing bike / walk / mass transportation over car. Well You can’t go to France with family by bike, but You can walk for a newspaper. 10% – not bad at all.

63% of people is positive for “ecology” in every day life – among these: 71% are women and drivers that travel over 17.000 miles a year. How do they make their input for ecology? The most often mentioned way was ecodriving (41% of drivers). Second place goes to maintaining the car in good shape (33%). Third place is choosing a good quality fuel  (26 %).

Of course I don’t believe that this data shows the eco-awareness. It’s more cash saving on fuel awareness, but it sounds better when You name it the first way. Probably if the fuel would cost 1$ per gallon nobody would care about mpg. And eco-awareness would be a term understood as not washing Your car in the lake during vacation or something like it (Seen it 2 years ago – they should allow to shoot people doing that).

Conclusion

Majority of drivers claim that they choose “eco” branded products and services only if their price isn’t higher than “regular” ones. So the sad, but true conclusion is that: being eco is ok… only if You don’t have to pay for it extra. It looks like the only option for now is to do the high mpg ecodriving. It’s easy, effective and free. It’s immune to “eco-bullshit” that car makers are selling to us (Yes, it’s about Prius also). Everyone can do it…

Lowering Your speed on the highway for 15 mph allows to save average about 10% of fuel. Accelerating slower between traffic lights gives another benefits (You will stop at next lights any way!)… Choosing smaller wheels, reduces the fuel consumption further. Going easier on air-conditioning… etc.

This attitude shows that it’s the driver habits and foot that decides about ecology. The same foot allowed BMW M3 to beat Prius with MPG. You can have 200 HP… 300 HP fun car and achieve high mpg doing ecodriving. On the other day, You can go and race on track to have some fun and let the steam out. On the other hand: You can’t have any fun in Prius or Insight.

Think about it, if You feel bad for having a fun car, when the world screams about CO2 and oil prices. It works for me…

Sites about Ecodriving:

http://www.ecodrivingusa.com/

http://www.ecodriving-online.eu/

Stats source: onet.pl

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