Welcome to the ecoDriver page, a program dedicated to teaching drivers how to drive efficiently, maintain and save and drive less. Vehicles are an integral part of a Thunder Bay resident's day. Whether its used to get to and from work, extra-curricular activities or lugging heavy equipment, your vehicle suits your needs. Because of your needs perhaps you can't make the small fuel efficient car work for you. Never fret though, you can still reduce your fuel use, improve your driving habits, reduce emissions and in the end save your gas money by adopting cleaner driving habits. Outlined below are some simple driving techniques, maintenance behaviours and driving habit changes you can make that will help you get the most kilometers for your loonie.
If you're interested in a free office presentation on the program please read more.
Drive Efficiently
Slow Down and Save: For every 10 km/h you go over 90, fuel efficiency drops by 10%. Driving 120 on the highway instead of 90 is like paying 30% extra for gas.
Easy on the Pedal: Jackrabbit starts from one stoplight to the next save only 2.5 minutes per hour, but increase fuel consumption by 37%.
Smooth Sailing: On the highway, keeping a steady speed uses less fuel. Accelerate smoothly and avoid hard braking by leaving room between your car and the one in front.
Be Idle Free: Just 10 seconds of idling uses more fuel than restarting the engine. In 10 minutes the average car will burn through 300 ml of fuel (approx. 1/3 of a litre).
Warm Up on the Go: Today's cars shouldn't be idled to warm up, and too much idling can cause damage. Driving gently for the first few minutes lets your transmission, steering, and engine all warm up at once.
Combine Trips: Trips under 5 km are the most polluting because the engine and the pollution control system never reach peak operating temperature. Combining several trips into one can cut fuel use and emissions by 20 to 50%.
Travel Light: Every extra hundred pounds reduces fuel efficiency by up to 2%, so keep your trunk clear of unnecessary items, and in the winter remove all snow and ice.
Make the Most of Your Transmissions: Using overdrive at high speeds saves fuel and reduces engine wear. With a manual transmission, shifting up gently but quickly to higher gears allows the engine to work more efficiently.
Use a Fuel Consumption Display: If your car comes with a consumption computer, use it to get instant feedback on fuel use. Drivers who learn to adjust their habits can save up to 10% this way. If your vehicle doesn't have one, they're easy to install. The ScanGuage II is one model you can order online.
Maintain and Save
Tire Pressure: Just one tire under-inflated by 8 psi can increase fuel consumption by 4%, and reduce the life of the tire by 15 000 km. Check the pressure once a month.
Motor Oil: Using worn-out oil, or the wrong grade of oil, can increase fuel use by 2%. Change it regularly with the grade listed in your owners' manual. "Energy Conserving" brands can reduce friction, improving efficiency even more.
Air Filter: Fuel use can increase up to 10% when the air filter is clogged, because not enough air makes it to the combustions chambers. Check it on the same schedule as you change oil, or more often if you travel on dusty roads.
Tune Ups: Keeping your vehicle in tune can reduce fuel consumption by up to 15% and smog causing emissions by even more. Follow the schedule in your owners' manual.
Drive Less
Carpool: It saves money, reduces pollution, and creates a friendlier commute.
Let Someone Else do the Driving: Taking transit frees up time to read the paper, catch up on work, or chat with friends. And it's often cheaper than taking the car. Visit Thunder Bay Transit for route maps and NextBus for real-time arrival and departure times.
Get Active: Cycling or walking is a healthy alternative, especially for short gas-guzzling errands. In 20 minutes the average person can walk 2 km or bike 5 km.
Telecommute: Working from home is increasingly feasible and doing it just once a week can boost job satisfaction and productivity while cutting your commute emissions by 20%.
To access a fuel calculator to see how much fuel your vehicle is using click on Fuel Calculator
Give us an idea of your driving habits by filling out our survey and qualify for our monthly draw!
Also a program offered by Natural Resources Canada called SmartDriver offers similar tips and information for fleet managers.
This project has received funding support from the Ontario Ministry of the Environment. Such support does not indicate endorsement by the Ministry of the contents of this material.
Thunder Bay Drivers:
30% drive between 10-15 thousand km per year.
46% drive less than 5 km to work.
46% own a large vehicle.
46% drive above the posted limit on local highways.
22% drive above the posted limit on city streets.
41% do not regularly check tire pressure.
35% do not know their vehicles current fuel mileage.
62% believe that improving their driving habits can increase their fuel mileage by 10%.
