4 tips to make your fuel last during the energy crisis

Over the last couple of months, fuel prices have absolutely shot up. It now costs UK drivers an average of over 155p per litre of unleaded petrol, couple this with the cost of living crisis, it’s no wonder people are looking for ways in which they can save a bit of money here and there!

We fully understand the problem you face here at Van Discount. After all, when you’re looking for new vans for sale, including Luton vans and curtainside vans, the cost of fuel is always going to constitute a vital part of your decision making. So if you’re looking for ways to ease the squeeze of the current fuel prices, here are our top tips for making your fuel go further.

Drive smooth

It’s a well known fact that your van uses the most fuel when it’s accelerating, so how can changing your braking habits affect your fuel consumption? Well, it’s more the way in which you brake that makes the difference.

Here’s an example – say for instance that you’re cruising down the road at 30mph, and you spot a traffic light up ahead that’s about to turn red. Instead of slamming on your brakes at the last possible moment, it uses a lot less fuel to ease your foot down onto your brake gradually as you approach the lights. Plus, slamming on your brakes damages your rotors and brake pads, and also puts you in a position where you have to accelerate from a static position. So not only does the gradual easing off help your fuel efficiency, but it also reduces the wear and tear on your van.

Start your engine just before you set off

Fair enough – if it’s a freezing cold January morning and your van is frozen solid, you’ll need to put your heating on for a few seconds to warm up your engine. The maximum for this should be no more than a minute really though, as the best way to warm up your engine is simply by driving it. It’s always best to avoid leaving your vehicle idle anyway for environmental reasons, but especially when you’re trying to save yourself money on fuel.

By leaving your vehicle idle, you can waste up to two litres of fuel for every hour you leave your engine running. Over that two hour period, your van could expel over 5.26kg of CO2, and cost you north of £3 an hour in fuel. That’s not very environmentally friendly! So it’s probably best you check your phone, put your belt on, and get your favourite playlist loaded up, before you start your engine – you’ll save yourself some money in the long run!

Correct your tyre pressure

Having under or over inflated tyres isn’t just a health and safety hazard to you and other road users, it can also have a significant impact on your fuel consumption. For example, under inflated tyres can use up to 10% more fuel than a vehicle with adequate tyre pressure. That can mean an additional cost incursion of £1.05 for every 50 miles you drive. How does this happen? Basically, flat tyres create more friction on the road when in use, meaning they need more power to move them, which uses more fuel as a result.

We’d recommend you try to check your tyres every two weeks to ensure they remain inflated to their required level. Properly inflating your tyres can save you up to £200 a year on fuel – and if that’s not motivation enough to get your tyres properly inflated, then we don’t know what is!

Avoid using your electrics

Most people are under the impression that the electrical features in their van are powered by the vehicle’s battery. This isn’t wrong, but there is slightly more to it than that. Your van’s battery gets its charge from your engine, so by default it uses a bit of fuel. To illustrate this, you might not be aware but the air conditioning in a van can use up to 1 litre of fuel for every 60 miles of distance travelled, that’s an extra £1.67 in petrol for every 60 miles you travel, just for using your AC. Essentially, if you can roll down your window, we recommend that you do so. You’ll thank us in the long run!

However much the fuel prices rise though – you can always count on us to provide you with brilliant savings when you buy a new van. We save our customers an average of 40% off the standard rate of a new van (which can often amount to thousands of pounds!), and you can find amazing deals on brand new vans to suit all kinds of needs here at Van Discount. So, whether you’re a private buyer or a fleet manager, we’ve got you covered.