September 18, 2011

BP recently took a number of 2012 Olympians on an eco driving day at the Millbank test centre to show them how to get more from their fuel and put more money back in their wallets.

The eco-driving test, backed by BP Target Neutral, the Official Carbon Offset Partner for London 2012, is designed to help motorists reduce their carbon footprints and save money on fuel costs. 

Jessica’s computer-controlled test was conducted in automatic three-litre diesel car, which was then compared to the driving of one of BPs miserly eco driving experts.  I must say that I’d feel happier about the test if it was in a manual vehicle, as there are surely more savings to had from the wider driving techniques that can be practiced in a manual car.  That said the efficiency available in such a big car is impressive.

Paralympian Stef Reid Also took the test, driving an automatic hatchback with a smaller 1.8 litre petrol engine.  She took six minutes longer than the expert to drive the course, but despite this Stef found she could save £460 on fuel a year and 780kg of CO2 – just by learning to drive more efficiently.

Jessica commented: "Efficient driving is about being smooth and safe and anticipating the road ahead.  I’ve learned not to accelerate too hard, not to over-rev and when slowing down to coast in gear with your foot off the accelerator.”

“I’m supporting a way of reducing my carbon footprint and saving money at the same time called Reduce, Replace and Neutralise.  That means starting to do things like learning to drive more efficiently and replacing fuel with a kind that helps the engine run more efficiently like BP Ultimate.  The remaining carbon emissions I’m responsible for can be offset using a not-for-profit scheme like BP Target Neutral.”.

Most oil companies now offer a premium fuel that offers better fuel economy and enhanced cleaning properties, but the eco driving test shows that it’s possible to get even bigger savings from just refining your driving techniques. Using the premium fuel alone will not offer enough.

BPs Target Neutral is a simple and cost effective method of offsetting your carbon footprint from driving via their website.  You can add your annual combined journeys into the calculator and it lets you know how much the offset will cost.

Eco driving asks that you read the road ahead and cut out acceleration to just then have to brake hard.  Cut out that unnecessary acceleration that you only have to slow down again and arrive at the next junction taking no more time, but costing much less in both fuel and carbon emissions.  Simply effective or effectively simple - you decide.

Jessica may be one of the world’s greatest athletes but if you change driving habits like her you could both save in the long run.

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