Saving on Van Fuel Costs
31-10-2014
When you are running your own business, it makes sense that you save money wherever possible without sacrificing the quality of customer service.
A good place to start when cutting back costs is to look at you motoring costs, and in particular the amount of fuel you use, especially if you rely on the use of a van.
While there’s not much you can do about the cost of petrol, there are a few things you can do to make the most of the miles in your tank.
By simply making a few small changes to your daily driving habits, you may begin to notice a big difference to your motoring costs. Read on for 7 Ways Rental top 10 ways to save on van fuel costs.
1. Reduce speed
By driving at or below the speed limit, you can significantly improve the fuel efficiency of your van. Driving at high speed burns more fuel so take extra care on motorways – by driving at 70mph you could save 25% more fuel than if you drove at 85mph.
2. Empty your van
The more excess weight you’re carrying round, the less fuel-efficient your van will be so make sure you declutter before you set off. Remove roof racks, tool kits or unnecessary equipment to lighten your load and also reduce the risk of your van being broken into.
3. Air conditioning
Air conditioning systems increase fuel consumption significantly so use sparingly in hot weather.
4. Tyre pressure
Ensuring your tyres are at the correct pressure for the vehicle and load could make your van up to 3% more fuel-efficient. Check at least once a month and your tyres should enjoy a much longer life.
5. Driving smoothly & efficiently
Braking suddenly and accelerating aggressively can significantly increase fuel consumption. Drive at a steady speed and leave a decent space between you and the driver in front so you don’t have to start and stop as much.
6. Plan ahead
Planning a route or journey before you take your van out will save you a lot of wasted time and fuel getting lost. You might find you save even more time by using a ‘real time’ satnav, which will alert you to traffic jams and congestion.
7. Prices at the pumps
Fuel prices can vary immensely between petrol stations so shop around for the best price before filling up.
8. Turn engine off
If your van is going to be stationary for a long period of time then it makes sense to switch off your engine. You’ll not only prevent your van from using up fuel you will also greatly reduce the amount of pollution you emit.
9. Downsize
Why not consider downsizing the van you use on a daily basis and hiring a larger one as and when needed. Small vans are a lot more fuel efficient, even if they have the same size engine they carrying less weight around.
10. Choose the right van
Choosing the right van has a great deal to do with how much you spend on fuel - the Renault Kangoo has a promising average fuel consumption of 55-60MPG and unsurprisingly the diesels are the most efficient options.