Cut your fuel bill with Ford
Thursday, 25 September 2008 12:00 AM
Ford's Smart Driving challenge took place in locations across the country
The Ford Focus ECOnetic Smart Driving challenge has provided some interesting results for those looking to cut their fuel bills.
Figures produced by 500 drivers demonstrated that the amount of fuel saved by following Ford's tips equates to £325 per year.
Drivers improved their miles per gallon ratio by 33.4 per cent, while associated CO2 emissions dropped by 22.5 per cent.
The Smart Driving Challenge ran at seven locations across the country over the summer, including the British International Motor Show in London.
Other locations were Murrayfield, Scotland; Tynemouth; Knowsley, Merseyside; West Midlands; Longleat, Wiltshire; and Cornwall's Eden Project.
The 500 drivers taking park were involved in a three-part test. The first was to establish existing smooth driving skills, with fuel consumption/CO2 output recorded.
Next came eco driving instruction from the Energy Saving Trust before a second mpg/CO2 measure was produced - expressed as an annual fuel saving.
Nigel Underdown, Energy Saving Trust's head of transport advice, said: "These are great results proving that a few simple smart driving techniques make a huge difference to fuel consumption.
"Typical annual savings equate to £325 or 650kg of CO2 per car. If all drivers reduced fuel consumption by the same proportion, more than 15 million tonnes of CO2 emissions would be avoided every year."
The Ford Smart Driving Challenge featured Ford Focus ECOnetic TDCi models, which combine aerodynamic styling, low rolling resistance tyres and enhanced engine oils to achieve a CO2 output of 115 g/km.
The Ford Mondeo ECOnetic (139g CO2) and Fiesta ECOnetic (98g CO2) models have also been launched.
Independent analysis by cleangreencars.co.uk shows that if customers continue their move into such lower CO2 and higher mpg Ford models, 83,818 tonnes of CO2 a year could be avoided - equivalent to annual emissions from around 13,000 homes.
Roelant de Waard, Ford of Britain chairman and managing director, said: "The combination of economical cars driven frugally can have a dramatic impact, as our Ford Focus ECOnetic Smart Driving Challenge has highlighted.
"Our sales of low CO2 cars are up 42 per cent this year so far as Ford meets the modern day imperatives of family motoring - lower fuel costs and CO2 emissions from affordable vehicles."
