According to the Green Vehicle Guide, ‘A typical passenger vehicle emits about 4.6 metric tons of carbon dioxide per year.’ Many of us can’t envision a life without driving at all, and yet the pollution caused by vehicles worldwide is a huge issue. Thankfully, there are a few steps you can take to become a more eco-friendly driver.

1. Car maintenance tips

If you want to be a more eco-friendly driver, you’ve got to maintain your vehicle properly. Firstly, it’s important to keep your tires inflated properly as this will help to improve your gas mileage. Make sure that you choose motor oil which is labeled as ‘energy conserving’ on the API performance.

While you’re at it, check that your oxygen sensor is working correctly. If you have a malfunctioning oxygen sensor, and you replace it, this can improve your gas mileage significantly. It’s also a good move to replace your air filter if it’s become clogged. Doing so is another way to improve mileage.

2. Drive with the earth in mind

There are plenty of ways to drive with the earth in mind, the first is to avoid speeding at all costs and avoid driving aggressively. Both of these things are not only unsafe but they also waste your gas.

Make sure that you use cruise control to help you achieve a constant speed while you are driving on the highway. When you are lowering your engine speed, use your overdrive gears to reduce the wear and tear of your engine and conserve gas.

3. Reduce your driving time

One of the easiest ways to be an eco-friendly driver is too reduce the amount of time that you are using your car. For shorter trips, consider walking or using a bike. For your daily commute try carpooling with your colleagues. There are a number of ride sharing apps available that allow users to share car rides and thus reduce collective emissions. One example is ‘Trees for cars’ and another is ‘Zimride’. Uber also has ride sharing options, so users in the same city can split the costs on their fare.

4. Consider an electric car 

Purchasing an electric car is an excellent choice for eco-friendly driving. Electric vehicles have no exhaust emissions. By choosing to own one you are no longer contributing to the harmful pollution that traditional vehicles cause. Some drivers use a renewable energy source to power their electric car, and by doing so you will be going even greener.

For instance, it’s possible to recharge using solar PV as opposed to the grid. Many car manufacturers have begun to use eco-friendly materials to make electric vehicles. One example is the new Ford Focus Electric, which uses recycled materials. Another advantage of the EV is that these have lower running costs when compared with traditional vehicles. It’s no secret that motoring costs seem to be creeping up every year, so it’s helpful to save money where you can.

Buying a used car can help you to save a tonne of money too, and you won’t suffer extensive deprecation losses this way. Reynolds Motor Group provides some excellent offers on used vehicles along with attractive finance options.