By Derryn Wong

WANT TO SAVE time, money and ultimately the world? Just relax your right foot. That’s the message of the Michelin/Volkswagen Fuel Economy Challenge where the name of the game is fuel efficiency and what all drivers can do to help both themselves and the world.

Companies like Michelin and Volkswagen invest huge amounts of time and money to bring efficient technology to the market that allow consumers to reap the benefits – Michelin’s range of Energy tyres for example can save you five percent of each tank of fuel. Volkswagen’s new seven-speed dual-clutch Direct Shift Gear transmission can be up to 20 percent more efficient than a normal torque converter autos.

But while efficient technologies are already available, the biggest and potentially most challenging piece of the fuel efficiency puzzle is still you – the driver. Fuel prices may have taken a dip but there’s little doubt that the price of oil will eventually rise again. As president of Michelin Asia-Pacific Prashant Prabhu puts it, “We need to cultivate the conscious habit of reducing fuel consumption, with or without a financial crisis.”

That’s why John and Helen Taylor, the world’s most fuel efficient couple, were on hand to dish out an education in going furthest on the least amount of gas. Having won 38 fuel economy world driving records and gone around the world on just 24 tanks of fuel in Volkswagen Golf, they certainly know a thing or two about being fuel frugal.

Our own challenge was to drive VW’s new Golf 1.4 TSI along a pre-planned route with John or Helen along for the ride, trying to go as far as possible while using the least fuel. The ten kilometer route, starting from Big Splash on the East Coast brought us through the ECP and Marine Parade, simulating everyday driving conditions.

Taking the Taylors’ advice to heart (see box), we achieved a respectable figure of 17.9km/L, which was far below Volkswagen’s quoted combined figure of 15.6km/L for the Golf.

But then we made the mistake of asking Helen what she managed to wring out of the Golf - something in the region of 33.3km/L which was astounding to say the least but merely served to illustrate the truth that the driver is the most important part of the fuel efficiency equation.

Tips:
1. Be a smooth operator – driving aggressively consumes more fuel so be smooth in all your inputs: braking, accelerating and turning.
2. Don’t be under pressure – under or over inflated tyres consume more fuel and are more prone to failure
3. Lose the spare tyre – throw out everything you don’t need in your boot. Carry a tyre repair kit instead of a spare, for instance.
4. Don’t fail to plan – planning your route and travelling at less congested hours will save you time and fuel
5. Avoid being idle – idling is the worst thing for fuel saving. If you’re waiting switch off the engine.

For more tips visit http://www.fuelacademy.com/taylors_tips.html