Experts have identified changes to driver behaviour that could save motorists significant sums of money every year
Research from DoneDeal showed searches for diesel models have dropped significantly (stock image)
Searches for electric vehicles have shot up by 125 per cent since the outbreak of the US-Iranian war, it’s been revealed.
Research from DoneDeal showed searches for diesel models have dropped dramatically, by 19.5 per cent, over the same period. The number of hybrid models sought, meanwhile, increased by 42.9 per cent.
But as worry over the war in the Middle East continues, DoneDeal says most don’t need a new car, and simple changes in driver behavior could save them up to €300 in fuel – based on somebody travelling 17,000km per year.
Boffins said smooth, progressive acceleration and anticipatory braking can reduce fuel consumption by up to 15 per cent in real-world driving.
They also stressed tyre pressure is consistently underestimated: running 10 per cent below the manufacturer’s recommended level adds up to 4 per cent to annual fuel consumption — the equivalent of giving away a tank of petrol for free every year.
Meanwhile, roof racks and boot clutter are silent fuel thieves. A roof-top cargo box can reduce fuel economy by up to 25 per cent at motorway speeds.
They noted many Irish drivers carry golf clubs, tools and other heavy items year-round without considering the cumulative cost at current pump prices.
Researchers also advise planning journeys for quieter periods, avoiding peak-hour stop-start traffic and maintaining a steady motorway speed all have an outsized effect on consumption.
At €2.18 per litre, a 50-litre diesel tank now costs €109 to fill. Over a year, the difference between efficient and inefficient driving habits can reach up to €300.
Paddy Comyn from DoneDeal Cars said: “Irish drivers are responding to the fuel crisis in two ways simultaneously — those who can change car are actively moving toward EVs and hybrids at a pace our platform data has rarely shown before.
“But for the majority still in combustion-engine cars, the message is that there is real money to be saved right now by altering our driving habits.
“Up to €300 a year is not a marginal gain — at current prices, that is roughly three full tanks of diesel.”
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