What is Fuel Economy?

Transport has always been an important part of human life. Traditionally, humans used animals and carts to transport themselves from one place to another. It used to take a considerable amount of time. Horseback riding, camel riding and other animal riding used to be regarded as modes of speedy transportation. As the human race has advanced, so has the means of transportation that they use. Now we have cars, which travel faster than any horse or camel could ever travel.

Cars run by fuel. This fuel is in the form of natural gas, kerosene, petrol and diesel. Since this fuel comes from natural oil and gas, it is a given that fuel is not unlimited. Rather, the fuel for cars today is becoming depleted very quickly, and the prices of fuel have risen to astronomical values as compared to even fifty years ago. Therefore car companies have made advances in car design and engines which allows the car to require lesser fuel to operate. The concept of fuel economy has therefore arisen in the world of automobiles and vehicles.

Fuel economy refers to the relationship between the distance a car travels and the amount of fuel it consumes. It is usually measured as the kilometers a car travels per liter of fuel. Generally, cars that run on petrol have better fuel economy than those that run on diesel. With the advancement in information technology, car manufacturers have achieved significant breakthroughs, which have greatly improved fuel economy of cars. Not only petrol cars, but diesel cars also have a better fuel economy now. This has become possible due to the introduction of such technology as Electronic computer module, ECU, and Eco. The computer system is installed in the engine of the car which gives instructions to the car about how much fuel to inject, and how fast to go etc. And this system incorporates advanced fuel systems for cars, such as VVTI for Toyota or IVTI for Honda cars etc. Apart from this, companies have even introduced hybrids, which greatly reduce the need for fuel. Hybrids run either on petrol or on a battery. The battery recharges itself as the car runs. Toyota Prius is an example of a hybrid.

With the increase in knowledge of aerodynamics and propulsion, as well as vehicle mechanism, we now know that steady speed driving greatly helps reduce the amount of fuel consumed by the car. An improvement in route selection, such as building tunnels, to reduce distance has also resulted in better fuel economy. Apart from this, improvements in road surfaces have also had a positive impact on fuel economy of cars. Moreover, driving habits of people greatly influence fuel economy. Fast, reckless driving usually leads to more fuel being consumed whereas slow driving or driving in a flow reduced the amount of fuel required. Moreover, on time servicing and maintenance of your car would ensure a better fuel economy.

The benefits of better fuel economy

Having a better fuel economy in your car has a number of benefits for you. The key benefits are:

• Cost saving. Since your cars now require lesser fuel for travel, this would greatly reduce your spending on petrol

• Greener environment. Some trains used to and still run on burned wood and coal. This greatly damages the environment quite a bit. Even cars have certain emissions that are harmful both to humans and other animals, as well as the environment as a whole. The new technology adopted by car manufacturers to reduce fuel consumption, also results in lower emissions from the engines of the car. This will greatly enhance environmental conservation.

• If you are a car manufacturer, producing cars with better fuel economy will greatly increase your sales. This is because more and more people are becoming aware of the importance of fuel economy and prefer cars that offer them the best in fuel consumption.

At AutoHouse only the best and most fuel economical vehicles in excellent condition are sold to gratified and appreciative customers with auxiliary consultation services and assistance.