What Does Fuel-Efficient Driving Achieve?

What Does Fuel-Efficient Driving Achieve?
Fuel-efficient driving isn’t solely about saving energy for your petrol, diesel, hybrid or electric vehicle. It’s about achieving the best mileage from your car by using smarter driving practices. Whether you are navigating city streets, embarking on long road trips, or managing a fleet of vehicles, there are numerous ways a driver can improve fuel efficiency.
Kia’s range of electric vehicles (EVs), including the EV6 and EV9, feature built-in technology to help drivers optimise their battery usage, recapture lost energy, and boost the effectiveness of energy-saving driving techniques. This can translate into more efficient energy consumption, increased range, and fewer charging stops on long journeys. These strategies may also reduce range anxiety.
But what can you truly achieve with fuel-efficient driving? Let’s explore how these techniques work and why they can be so impactful for drivers. We’ll start with hypermiling, which can help with fuel efficiency.

What is Hypermiling?
Hypermiling is the practice of employing driving techniques to maximise fuel efficiency and energy conservation. It’s a practical strategy for drivers looking to improve their mileage. Here are some methods that drivers can employ in most vehicles:
1. Avoid Idling
For petrol or hybrid cars in rush hour traffic, turn off the engine if you’re stationary for more than a minute. Kia internal combustion engine (ICE) models can utilise the useful Idle Stop and Go (ISG) system, which automatically stops ICEs when idle. In EVs, stationary power usage can be minimised by turning off unnecessary systems.
2. Reduce Drag
Reducing aerodynamic resistance can help you conserve battery power. You can do this by closing windows on the motorway and removing any roof racks or boxes when not in use.
3. Remove Excess Weight
Remove any excess or unnecessary items from your car. Reducing weight can increase your fuel (or energy) economy. This could mean removing unnecessary attachments, such as roof racks, or simply remembering to empty your car boot between journeys.
4. Use a Windscreen Cover
A windscreen cover can be useful all year round. In winter, it helps prevent frost build-up, reducing the amount of fuel needed to heat the cabin and defrost the windows. In summer, it keeps the car cooler, cutting down on air conditioning usage. For added efficiency, consider using Climate Control to recirculate cabin air, as this uses less energy than air conditioning.
1. Reduced Emissions: Electric panel vans produce no tailpipe emissions , making them an eco-friendly option for companies looking to lower their carbon footprint. This is especially useful in urban areas with strict emissions regulations.
2. Lower Running Costs: Electric vehicles typically feature fewer moving parts than petrol or diesel vehicles, which can lead to reduced maintenance expenses over their lifespan.
3. Urban Suitability: These vehicles can enter low-emission zones such as the Ultra-Low Emissions Zone (ULEZ) without incurring penalties, making them ideal for city-based operations. The fact that EVs run so quietly can help with noise restriction compliance, making them particularly suited for residential deliveries.
4. Positive Brand Image: Adopting electric panel vans into its fleet can showcase a company’s commitment to sustainability, resonating with consumers who prioritise environmentally responsible businesses.

How Do You Drive an EV Efficiently?
Efficient EV driving requires combining the principles of hypermiling with leveraging the innovative technology built into electric cars.
1. Accelerate Smoothly
Rapid or aggressive acceleration can significantly increase fuel usage and reduce range. To improve fuel efficiency, press the accelerator gently to reach your desired speed. Activating the vehicle’s ‘Eco Mode’ can help optimise efficiency by adjusting power output, throttle response and climate settings. This helps to reduce energy use, moderate speed and extend your vehicle’s range.
2. Drive at Moderate Speeds
Driving faster than 60mph increases wind resistance, creating aerodynamic drag that reduces fuel efficiency. Keep to moderate speeds to conserve energy and maintain a better range.
3. Use Regenerative Braking
Regenerative braking uses an electric vehicle’s motor to slow it down, rather than the brake, and recharges the battery at the same time. Doing this instead of hard braking or overusing the braking pedal will help you both recover energy and improve efficiency.
4. Pre-condition the Cabin
Climate Control systems, which heat or cool the cabin, can drain your EV battery when in use. It is more efficient to pre-condition your car while it’s charging. The electricity used will be drawn from the mains rather than the battery. This means the battery can still be charged to 100% and your range won’t be impacted before your journey.
5. Maintain Car Tyres
Under-inflated tyres increase rolling resistance, forcing the engine to work harder to move the car. This both wastes energy and causes the tyres to wear out faster. It’s crucial to regularly check your tyre pressure, especially if the temperature has changed by around 10°C or more.
6. Battery Levelling
Battery levelling involves keeping the battery within the 20-80% range (rather than 100%) to optimise charging times and maximise battery lifespan. Charging to 80% places less stress on the battery, helping it to last longer. Similarly, keeping the battery above 20% reduces strain, as EV batteries work harder and expend more energy to charge when they’re below this level. However, the ideal range may vary depending on your EV model or the manufacturer’s recommendations. By following this practice, you can help to maintain your battery’s long-term performance and reliability.

Fuel-Efficient Driving: A Smart Choice for All Drivers
Fuel-efficient driving isn’t just for cost-conscious individuals. It’s a lifestyle shift that benefits drivers of all types of vehicles. It also means fewer trips to the charger or petrol station.
For electric cars, features like pre-conditioning, eco-driving modes and regenerative braking can help you drive more efficiently. Combined with hypermiling techniques, these innovations can help your electric vehicle achieve a higher range.
1. Reduced Emissions: Electric panel vans produce no tailpipe emissions , making them an eco-friendly option for companies looking to lower their carbon footprint. This is especially useful in urban areas with strict emissions regulations.
2. Lower Running Costs: Electric vehicles typically feature fewer moving parts than petrol or diesel vehicles, which can lead to reduced maintenance expenses over their lifespan.
3. Urban Suitability: These vehicles can enter low-emission zones such as the Ultra-Low Emissions Zone (ULEZ) without incurring penalties, making them ideal for city-based operations. The fact that EVs run so quietly can help with noise restriction compliance, making them particularly suited for residential deliveries.
4. Positive Brand Image: Adopting electric panel vans into its fleet can showcase a company’s commitment to sustainability, resonating with consumers who prioritise environmentally responsible businesses.

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