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It’s no secret that hybrid cars get better fuel economy than their “regular fuel” counterparts. Unfortunately, you probably don’t have a hybrid car. Fortunately, that doesn’t have to stop you from getting great gas mileage.
Here are several things you can do to help your vehicle get hybrid-like fuel economy without shelling out the extra money for a real hybrid car:
- Remove all excess weight from your vehicle. The general rule of thumb is that for every extra 100 pounds you load in your car, you reduce your fuel economy by 2%. A good place to start is in the trunk of your car. Do you really need to carry your golf clubs all the time?
- Make sure your tires are properly inflated. Again, the general rule of thumb is that driving on flat tires will reduce fuel consumption by 2%, on average. You should try to check tire pressure at least once a month.
- watch your speed. According to FuelEconomy.gov, for every 5 miles per hour you drive over 60 mph, you reduce your fuel economy by 6%. That’s a pretty big incentive to hang out in the right lane.
- Reduce the amount of time you are idle. Again, according to FuelEconomy.gov, your car wastes up to 17% of its fuel simply by idling. Whether you’re turning off your car when you’re stuck at a long stoplight, or parking your car when you’re picking something up from a friend’s house, you need to find ways to reduce the amount of time your car sits idle.
- Use moderate acceleration. Quick acceleration, along with acceleration to stops (instead of freewheeling) can decrease your fuel economy by up to 33%! So the next time the light turns green, don’t shoot.
It may sound unrealistic, using the tips above should help you increase your fuel economy by 10-20%. You may not be able to get the same fuel economy as a true hybrid car, but following these items should get you pretty close.