Spend less, travel further

Car owners, take note. The more passengers, the less the car fuel gets. But who would want to get left behind? Yet if this is going to be a breakthrough, I wonder where it will bring us? Or what?

-----

Fuel consumption
Singapore drivers now more informed about fuel economy than two years ago


Neo Chai Chin
chaichin@mediacorp.com.sg

UNSTABLE oil prices and the need for cost savings in the midst of the economic downturn have led motorists to consume fuel more frugally.

Three in four drivers say they are more conscious of fuel efficiency now than 12 months ago, according to a January survey of 301 drivers in Singapore commissioned by oil giant Shell. This is up from one in four drivers back in 2007 when a similar survey was done.

Drivers are also taking a multi-pronged approach to rein in consumption. Instead of the average of 2.5 steps to save fuel in 2007, those surveyed this year took eight steps. And these ranged from avoiding rapid acceleration and braking and keeping tyres properly inflated, to planning their trips and keeping their engines properly tuned.

Little steps can lead to significant savings, said Mr Eric Holthusen, Shell’s fuels manager for Asia-Pacific. The average Shell Escape rewards member uses about 130 litres of petrol per month — costing about $200 at current oil prices — but can save up to $48 a month by using fuel efficient products and adopting good driving habits.

“Every 45 kg (of extra load in the car), you lose 1 to 2 per cent of fuel efficiency,” said Mr Henry Chu, Shell’s general manager for sales and operations in Singapore.

He urged drivers to purge their car boots of golf clubs and items which are used only occasionally.

Drivers in five other countries — Malaysia, Hong Kong, the Philippines, Germany and the Netherlands — were also surveyed.

Singapore motorists were found to be most motivated by cost savings, with nine in 10 enticed by the prospect, compared to the global average of eight in 10. They were also most likely to have ever checked their cars’ fuel efficiency — 77 per cent, compared to the global average of 69 per cent.

But local drivers could do more advanced route planning, said Mr Chu. “They think Singapore is so small ... (but) it makes a difference,” he said.

For instance, choosing a less congested route would result in less brake application.

Still, it remains to be seen if the fuel-saving habits picked up will stay now that recent pump prices have receded to levels seen about two years ago.

Motorist Jimmy Ho, 51, for example, said he combined car trips with public transport when oil prices spiked last year, but has since slackened in his efforts.

From TODAY, News
Thursday, 02-April-2009