High fuel prices: If you drive intelligently, you can save a lot

Fuel saving measures are often ignored

The consumption has an impact on the annual fuel costs higher influence than the prices at gas stations, warns the mobility organization VCÖ. She criticizes the fact that the Austrian federal government is working on curbing fuel prices and ignoring fuel saving. “A tax cut with a watering can is expensive, does not free us from the oil trap and is also not accurate from a social perspective because wealthy households consume significantly more fuel and therefore benefit more from it,” says the VCÖ expert Michael Schwendinger fest.

What 30 km/h less on the highway brings

The government is not setting lower speed limits for the time being. But that doesn’t mean that as a driver you can’t take action yourself could. The personal one Savings potential can be clearly quantified. Anyone traveling on the motorway at 100 km/h instead of 130 km/h uses 23 percent less fuel and ensures an equally large reduction in carbon dioxide. It also produces 34 percent less fine dust.

How to reduce fuel costs by 15 percent

In a practical test by KURIER four years ago, a 230-kilometer route was covered on the motorway, once at 130 km/h and once at 100 km/h. A VW Polo once consumed 15.26 liters of gasoline and another time 12.94 liters. The saving was 2.3 liters or 15 percent. In March 2022, the price of gasoline was at 2 Euro per liter. A 15 percent savings would have a virtual price of 1,70 Euro means.

Economical driving makes sense

At the time when Russia’s invasion of Ukraine was causing high prices, the ÖAMTC put forward the argument that reducing speed limits on the motorway would only help 1 to 3 percent save on overall fuel consumption. Only a third of the total transport performance is carried out on motorways. The average speeds on motorways are significantly lower than the maximum permitted speed.

Nevertheless, the automobile club objects today: gentle driving takes the strain off your wallet. “An economical driving style doesn’t mean that you need longer, but rather that you look ahead and as constant and fluid as possible is on the way,” explains Hermann Wirrer from ÖAMTC driving technology. His tips: use rolling phases and drive smoothly, choose a high gear, check tire pressure.

Zero fuel consumption is also possible

Other experts also recommend using the engine brake when rolling up to traffic lights, switching off the engine when stationary for a long time or even avoiding heated seats or excessive air conditioning. If you have an automatic transmission, you should select Eco mode if available. Of course, it’s also obvious to have the car at all if possible to let stand and to cover distances by public transport, bike or on foot.

“One lesson from the current oil price rally must be to quickly and significantly reduce transport’s dependence on oil. In addition to fuel-saving driving, more train and bus connections and improving the cycling infrastructure also play a role Electric cars an important role,” emphasizes Schwendinger. According to VCÖ, the approximately 266,000 electric cars currently on domestic roads reduce fuel consumption by around 200 million liters per year. Austria’s total annual consumption is around 9 billion liters.