Fuel Efficiency Overview

The fuel economy, or fuel efficiency, of a vehicle addresses the relationship between the distance traveled and the amount of fuel consumed by the vehicle, or miles per gallon (MPG). A vehicle that can travel many miles on a small amount of fuel has a good fuel economy, or high MPG. There are many variables that can affect the fuel economy of a vehicle, such as the type of vehicle, the way a person drives the vehicle, and the way a vehicle is maintained. A high fuel economy can save a person money and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

                                                                                      

 

Fuel Efficiency Tips

Parts & Equipment

You can conserve fuel and maximize your operational efficiency by outfitting your existing vehicles with parts and equipment designed to save fuel. Learn about outfitting your fleet’s vehicles with fuel saving devices.

Fleet Rightsizing 

By optimizing fleet size and composition, managers can minimize vehicle use, conserve fuel, and save money. Evaluate your vehicle needs to build and maintain a more sustainable, fuel-efficient fleet.

Vehicle Maintenance

A well-maintained car is more fuel-efficient, produces fewer GHG emissions, and is safer! Get regular tune-ups, follow the manufacturer’s maintenance schedule, and use the recommended grade of motor oil. Discover ways to improve your fleet’s fuel economy through vehicle maintenance.

Driving Behavior

Driving more efficiently (like going easy on the gas pedal and brakes) is often the most effective way to reduce your current vehicle’s GHG emissions. Take a look at these tips for driving more efficiently. Learn strategies and techniques to improve driving behavior, conserve fuel, and save money.


Reducing Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT)

Reducing the number of VMT decreases petroleum use in transportation and reduces vehicle emissions. Also known as transportation demand management (TDM), VMT reduction strategies can also reduce traffic congestion, increase vehicle fuel economy, reduce transportation costs, and save time for drivers.

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An overview of VMT reduction methods with sectors of implementation featured in VTCCC’s Sustainable Campus Transportation Toolkit.

Rather than increasing capacity (which we know now just increases demand in lock-step), TDM aims to intelligently redistribute and reduce demand on existing transportation infrastructure using numerous strategies that lead to improved mobility, reduced congestion, and lower vehicle emissions. Some of these many strategies include:

Ridesharing: Learn about supporting rideshare and carshare programs to help employees conserve fuel.

Mass Transit: Discover ways to encourage employees to conserve fuel by using mass transit.

Active Transit: Find ways for employers to encourage conserving fuel through active transit like biking and walking.

Multi-Modal Transportation: Explore ways to use multiple modes of transportation to conserve fuel and reduce vehicle miles traveled.

Telework: Find out how fleet managers and corporate decision makers can help employees telework to conserve fuel.