There are many safety tips and suggestions to save fuel during drive and to make the car more economical. Many car buyers think of purchasing a car that has fuel economy features. The main reason for this thought is the increase in fuel prices. This hike made car makers to think of developing new vehicles that consume less fuel and this development resulted in hybrid cars. But still lot of buyers prefer gasoline or diesel for fuel. Due to this, car makers came up with economy mode.
This technology was not much popular before a decade, but present day many of the automakers are providing this feature in their new models. Lexus, Infiniti, Mercedez, Ford are few cars that offer economy mode.
Economy mode enhances the fuel efficiency
The driver can activate the “Eco mode” by simply clicking a button. The Economy mode allows the driver to take control of fuel by taking control of the car itself. This mode reduces the unnecessary torque and power there by increasing the fuel efficiency. Many of the car makers claim that the economic mode helps to improve the fuel efficiency by 5% to 10%.
If driver follows the suggestions of Eco mode system, he/she can increase the fuel efficiency by 24%. If every American driver follows these suggestions, and achieve 15% benefit in fuel economy, then U.S. Drivers can save more than 22 billion gallons of gasoline every year.
As per the U.S. Transportation Department, if the driver uses cruise control for 10,000 miles then he can save nearly $200 and more than 60 gallons of fuel. If the speed limit is not exceeded by 60mph, mileage could be improved by 23%.
Economy mode controls electrical systems of a car
Economy mode helps to increase the battery capacity. When this mode is ON, the air conditioning system automatically decreases the load on the engine. It is not just a single feature, but a package of multiple economy features. This mode adjusts the electrical systems of the car, by automatically turning off the non-essential electrical systems.
Economy Mode – Operating efficiency of the engine
In some cars, Eco-mode monitors engine rpm, vehicle speed, accelerator position, clutch position, engine temperature. Based on these parameters, the system evaluates and provides suggestions to improve operating efficiency.
Few of the Eco-driving practices are
- Use highest drivable gear
- Maintain constant speeds to enjoy a smooth ride in cities
- Use cruise control on the highway
- Accelerate and decelerate smoothly
Even if the driver is driving in traffic, he can still maintain his car at a constant speed as the traffic lights in a series are generally synchronized. A car moving at a specific speed can cross a series of green lights without having to stop. Thus, the driver can avoid red lights and keep the vehicle moving efficiently.
Economy mode improves the fuel efficiency, operating efficiency of engines and increases the battery capacity and decreases the maintenance cost. Drivers have to practice Eco-driving skills to get benefited out of this Eco-mode.
