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- Smart driving tips save £325 a year and improve mpg by over 33 per cent
- Ford Focus ECOnetic returned 78.5mpg* on Challenge
BRENTWOOD, Essex, 24 September, 2008 – Figures achieved by 500 drivers in the Ford Focus ECOnetic Smart Driving Challenge show how much money, fuel and CO2 can be saved by using eco driving techniques.
The Energy Saving Trust, which ran the Ford Smart Driving Challenge with low CO2 Ford Focus ECOnetic models, has reported:
- Fuel saved after deploying smart driving tips equated to £325 per year for the average motorist
- Drivers improved their miles per gallon by 33.4 per cent
- Associated CO2 impact improved by 22.5 per cent
- Best fuel consumption recorded for Ford Focus ECOnetic was 78.5mpg* (compared with official European Drive Cycle combined figure of 65.6mpg*)
Ford's summer Smart Driving Challenge ran at seven locations across the country, including the British International Motor Show in London. Other regional challenge events were at Murrayfield, Scotland; Tynemouth; Knowsley, Merseyside; West Midlands; Longleat, Wiltshire; and Cornwall's Eden Project.
* Note: Fuel economy figures quoted are based on the European Fuel Economy Directive EU 80/1268/EEC and will differ from fuel economy drive cycle results in other regions of the world
The 500 drivers taking part tackled a three-part test. The first was to establish existing smooth driving skills, with fuel consumption/CO2 output recorded.
Next came eco driving instruction from the Energy Saving Trust before a second mpg/CO2 measure was produced –expressed as an annual fuel saving. Smart driving techniques deliver environmental, financial and safety benefits by reducing fuel consumption thanks to a smoother driving style aimed at eliminating wasteful acceleration and braking.
Nigel Underdown, Energy Saving Trust's head of transport advice, said: "These are great results proving that a few simple smart driving techniques make a huge difference to fuel consumption.
"Typical annual savings equate to £325 or 650kg of CO2 per car. If all drivers reduced fuel consumption by the same proportion, more than 15 million tonnes of CO2 emissions would be avoided every year."
The Ford Smart Driving Challenge featured Ford Focus ECOnetic TDCi models, which combine aerodynamic styling, low rolling resistance tyres and enhanced engine oils to achieve CO2 output of 115g/km. Ford Mondeo ECOnetic (139g CO2) and Fiesta ECOnetic (98g CO2) models have also been launched.
Independent analysis by cleangreencars.co.uk shows that if customers continue their move into such lower CO2 and higher mpg Ford models, 83,818 tonnes of CO2 a year could be avoided – equivalent to annual emissions from around 13,000 homes.
Roelant de Waard, Ford of Britain chairman and managing director, said: "The combination of economical cars driven frugally can have a dramatic impact, as our Ford Focus ECOnetic Smart Driving Challenge has highlighted. Our sales of low CO2 cars are up 42 per cent this year so far as Ford meets the modern day imperatives of family motoring – lower fuel costs and CO2 emissions from affordable vehicles."
What is eco driving?
- Change up through the gears at between 2,000 and 2,500 rpm
- Ease your speed. Driving at 70mph uses around 15 per cent more fuel than at 50mph
- Anticipate to avoid unnecessary acceleration and braking
- Use auxiliary equipment selectively, eg air conditioning
- Switch off the engine whenever safe to do so
- Check and adjust tyre pressures regularly, according to load and speed driven
- Remove unnecessary cargo from the car to reduce weight
- Reduce aerodynamic drag whenever possible, eg close windows or remove roof racks
What are the benefits?
- Reduced fuel consumption
- Lower fuel bills
- Less CO2 emissions
- Lower accident rates as a result of improved anticipation
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Editor's notes: 1) The Energy Saving Trust is one of the UK's leading organisations set up to mitigate the damaging effects of climate change. It aims to cut carbon dioxide emissions – the main greenhouse gas causing climate change – by promoting the sustainable and efficient use of energy. The Trust provides impartial information and advice and has a network of advice centres in the UK helping consumers take action to save energy.