Cut fuel use – it’s easy, says Hyundai

30 May 2007
Immediate release

Cut fuel use – it’s easy, says Hyundai

Hyundai, fresh from setting a swag of new fuel economy marks on its eco-run, is challenging New Zealand drivers to adopt more fuel efficient habits behind the wheel.

World economy expert Hans Tholstrup led a dozen vehicles on a three-day trip through the North Island demonstrating low fuel usage and its part in sustainability.

“There’s a lot the ordinary driver can do to use less fuel,” explained the Managing Director of Hyundai NZ, Philip Eustace.

“With today’s technology, both diesel and petrol engines can deliver economy unheard of just a few years ago.

“Some of New Zealand’s best economy drivers joined us on the eco-run, and even they were able to learn a few tricks from Hans,” said Mr. Eustace.

“Even the tiny things like the impact of plugging a cellphone charger into the cigarette lighter which nudges up the usage by a fraction.

“More realistically there are many practices the average driver can incorporate into their daily habits, to save fuel and cost, and also contribute to overall sustainability which of course is vital in today’s world.

“Drivers should be gentle and smooth behind the wheel, avoiding sudden turns, acceleration or braking.

“Look ahead and anticipate what will happen in your path, whether it’s traffic lights or other vehicles moving across or whatever: decelerate ahead of time and be ready to move ahead or stop smoothly without sudden decisions.

“Use the air conditioning only when it’s really needed, rather than as a kind of default setting.

“And planning your route can save a surprising amount of fuel; so much information is available on the internet that drivers can accurately plan ahead.”

Careful driving saw remarkable fuel economy figures on the eco-run.

Aucklander Donn Anderson in a diesel-powered Hyundai Getz recorded less than 4 litres per 100 km throughout the trip of more than 1,000 km, with a final figure of 3.94 which equates to 59.7 miles per gallon in the old measurement.

The Getz and several other models completed the entire event on one tank of fuel, over fuel-sapping roads from Auckland return via Taupo, Bulls, Wanganui and New Plymouth.

Tholstrup, driving a Hyundai Santa Fe SUV and towing close to the vehicle’s maximum weight, recorded 11.09 l/100 km or 21.2 mpg. He easily met the target of just one refuel, completing the trip on less than two tankfuls of diesel.

All of the 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 (E10) and the diesels a five percent blend of biodiesel (B5).

Hyundai will plant trees 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.

Mayors and councilors of cities visited, planted the first trees along the way.

ENDS

© Scoop Media