My results from fuel economy experiment

[skilly1]

I commute around 110 miles a day, 50% on Motorway and 50% on A/B roads. I thought I would see how much of a difference it would make driving in my usual style (which is not excessive but I get on with it) and driving carefully but still going at the national speed limits.

Here are the results which I though were quite interesting. The car is a BMW 320d Touring.

My normal driving


Driving carefully

Around a 30% increase in efficiency.

[R0G]

WAs the longer time taken due to the style of driving or traffic situations?

[Dracoro]

It's also 11 minutes of your life you won't get back

[skilly1]

R0G said:

WAs the longer time taken due to the style of driving or traffic situations?

On the efficiency run there were some temp road works which may account for 3 mins !

[Lucas Ayde]

That's a pretty impressive amount of extra economy for only a slightly slower avg speed/longer drive time. Definitely worth taking the effort to drive more economically if it's a regular commute.

[StottyZr]

Thats pretty much the difference I find. Usual driving around 45-46mpg, take it extremely easy and I get ~60mpg. I've pretty much stopped economy runs altogether now and I just get on with it!

[Boydie88]

That difference suggests your normal driving fits in with a BMW stereotype

[BarnatosGhost]

At 110 miles per day, just multiply that saving over the year and book a 'free' cruise to celebrate.

[sulli]

Tried the same myself - generally I can get 5mpg better being careful. It's less fun, but sometimes I am in the mood to go slow...

[R12HCO]

Who is paying the fuel bill though? If its you, i would be driving at the speed limit and not a mile and hour more.

[R0G]

R12HCO said:

Who is paying the fuel bill though? If its you, i would be driving at the speed limit and not a mile and hour more.

The OP stated that he was at but not above the limits on both drives

Its the STYLE of driving that saves fuel but that does not mean a boring drive

Seeing a red light a little way ahead -
Style 1 - rush up and stop quick
Style 2 - ease off early and roll up

both mean the set off time from the light is the same but the 2nd saves on fuel

[CBR JGWRR]

I could get a factor of ten difference from my old Aprilia dependant on riding conditions...

[thebigmacmoomin]

R0G said:

The OP stated that he was at but not above the limits on both drives

Its the STYLE of driving that saves fuel but that does not mean a boring drive

Seeing a red light a little way ahead -
Style 1 - rush up and stop quick
Style 2 - ease off early and roll up

both mean the set off time from the light is the same but the 2nd saves on fuel

I do style 2, why should I waste my petrol to wait at a red light for longer. Plus I get 20mpg around town so every little helps.

Edited by thebigmacmoomin on Monday 16th April 17:51

[thebigmacmoomin]

skilly1 said:

I commute around 110 miles a day, 50% on Motorway and 50% on A/B roads. I thought I would see how much of a difference it would make driving in my usual style (which is not excessive but I get on with it) and driving carefully but still going at the national speed limits.

Have you done one where you drive like your pants are on fire with hard acceletration etc, just to compare since you have done normal & fuel save mode.