NZ economy records set on Hyundai eco-run

25 May 2007
Immediate release

NZ economy records set on Hyundai eco-run

Australian environmentalist Hans Tholstrup and a dozen economy drivers have finished the Hyundai eco-run in a blaze of new records.

Tholstrup replicated a Kiwi holiday of three days over 1,100 km of highways and secondary roads, towing a gross load, on less than two tanks of fuel in his diesel-powered Hyundai Santa Fe SUV.

Meanwhile Aucklander Donn Anderson drove his diesel-powered Hyundai Getz below the magical level of 4 litres used per 100 km, taking the Kiwi folklore record to 3.94.

Anderson completed the entire journey from Auckland return through Taupo, Wanganui and New Plymouth on less than one tank of fuel, as did two Hyundai Sonata sedans, comfortable family cars.

All vehicles on the Hyundai-sponsored environmental expedition plunged below the Government-published economy figures for that model. Tholstrup used just 78.5 percent of the official fuel figure.

The 61-year-old adventurer and futurist was expected to meet or marginally beat the guideline of 14 l/100km, but recorded exactly 11.0.

His Santa Fe was towing its maximum weight, a Hyundai Accent on a car trailer to replicate a typical family boat.

“It’s important for all New Zealanders to realise that sustainability and also economical driving are easily accomplished,” commented the Danish-born Australian.

“We all drove at a reasonable pace over some very testing roads with winding and hilly terrain, yet everybody on this eco-run demonstrated what the modern generation of fuel-efficient and clean-burning engines can achieve.”

A prize among the drivers for the largest improvement over official figures was won by Aucklander David Kilburn in a petrol-powered Hyundai Accent small car, at a massive 30.6 percent improvement.

In a surprise result the largest vehicle, a Hyundai Grandeur with a 3.8-litre V6 petrol engine recorded a 25.4 percent reduction in the hands of Aucklander Peter Gill.

Trees are being planted to offset the emissions of all eco-run vehicles and support cars, as well as the electricity used by the competitors and the waste they produced, even the transport used to get them to the event.

All vehicles ran on Shell bio-fuels above the minimum government guidelines for their forthcoming introduction in New Zealand; the petrol vehicles using a 10 percent blend of ethanol and the diesels a five percent blend of biodiesel.

Mayors and councilors greeted the eco-runners in cities they visited, including Manukau Mayor, Sir Barry Curtis, Taupo Councilor, Christine McElwee, and New Plymouth Mayor, Peter Tennent.

Results of the three-day Hyundai eco-run:

* Hans Tholstrup and co-driver Joel Grant, Hyundai Santa Fe diesel, towing max weight: NZ published expectation 14 l/100km, actual two-day figure 11.0, 21.5 percent reduction on published figure.
* Peter Gill and Philip Eustace, Hyundai Grandeur petrol: 10.8, 8.0, 26%
* Eoin Young and Wal Willmott, Hyundai Sonata diesel: 7.3, 6.09, 16.6%
* Stephen Hampston-Tindale and Murray Nicholson, Hyundai Sonata diesel: 7.3, 5.23, 28.4%
* Bill Green and Greg Perkins, Hyundai Sonata petrol: 8.8, 6.79, 22.9%
* Damien O’Carroll and Dave Sisley, Hyundai Accent diesel: 4.5, 4.07, 11.5%
* David Kilburn and Trish Kilburn, Hyundai Accent petrol: 6.7, 4.65, 30.6%
* Donn Anderson and Lynn Anderson, Hyundai Getz diesel: 4.5, 3.94, 12.5%
* Richard Bosselman and Scott Billman, Hyundai Santa Fe petrol: 10.6, 9.4, 11.3%
* Peter Louisson and Maurice Rotherham, Hyundai Tucson petrol: 10.9, 7.93, 27.3%

ENDS

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