Martin Lewis, founder of Money Saving Expert, said improving efficiency and driving style together could cut fuel costs by 10% to 30% depending on where drivers start. This advice comes as petrol prices are now 10p higher than before the Iran war escalated, and diesel costs have shot up by 20p a litre. The RAC said prices at the pump were 'really starting to hurt drivers' as they continue to rise amid the conflict in the Middle East.
The average price of unleaded petrol at UK forecourts was 142.3p a litre on Tuesday, up 7.1% since February 28. Average diesel prices had jumped by nearly 14% over the roughly two-week period to 162.1p per litre.
Lewis emphasized that vehicle weight and tyre pressure significantly impact fuel efficiency. Extra weight, for every about 45 kilograms, makes your car 1% less fuel efficient. He also noted that under-inflated tyres can add 3% or 4% to fuel bills.
Prices at the pump were 'really starting to hurt drivers' as they continue to rise amid the conflict in the Middle East.
Driving behavior plays a crucial role in energy waste, Lewis explained. Your accelerator is a money pump. When you are pressing it, you are spending the fuel that you have put into the car. Your brake isn't much better; it's a money burner because when you're braking, you are converting the energy stored into the car into heat and throwing it away.
Aerodynamic factors also affect fuel consumption. When you're going at low speeds, your aircon can be really quite expensive proportionally and make the car much less fuel-efficient. At high speeds, if it's warm, keep it on because opening your windows on a motorway will really add drag and make the car have to work much harder. He also recommended removing unused roof racks, stating that if you've got a roof rack on and you're not using it, take it off because it's really inefficient as you're having to push that through the wind on the motorway as you drive.
To offset fuel costs, Lewis suggested using financial tools like cashback cards. Specifically, he recommended the Lloyds Ultra Credit Card to get 1% cashback for a year on all spending in the UK and abroad, or the Chase debit card for 1% back up to £15 a month on petrol, diesel, groceries, and UK transport for those who prefer not to use credit cards.
According to Assistance for Single Mothers, Lewis is highlighting the cost of inefficiency. A spokesperson for the organization said Martin Lewis is highlighting the cost of inefficiency, noting that fuel is one of those costs where small percentage savings translate directly into real money.