Gas prices have actually dropped quite a bit — down to an average of $2.45 in December 2014 — but since they have been rather high over the last few years, Americans are still very aware of fuel economy. Cars these days are pretty efficient, but there are still a few things you can do to make your car as efficient as possible. Fuel economy is measured in miles per gallon (MPG), which is, of course, the number of miles a car can travel per gallon of gas that it uses. Here are a few tips on how to get the best MPG for your car.
1. Drive Well.
One way to get the best MPG possible is to drive well and not aggressively. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, not driving aggressively can increase the MPG that your car gets by 33% on the highways and 5% in town. Aggressive driving behaviors include fast acceleration, hard braking, and speeding. Drivers should always go the speed limit, give themselves time to reach their destinations, brake carefully, and always follow all traffic laws.
2. Go Hybrid or Electric.
Another way to get a better MPG for your car is to buy a hybrid or an electric cars. Electric and hybrid fuel economy are so impressive because they don’t burn gas at all, or only run from gasoline part of the time. In the case of hybrids, the car switches between the gasoline power source and runs from an electric battery, which saves gas. The only caveat here is the prospect of hybrid battery replacement, but with updates and advancements in the industry, these batteries are increasingly reliable.
3. Maintain Your Vehicle
Another tip for improving your car’s fuel economy is to keep it well maintained. Check the tires every so often and make sure that they are filled with enough air and are not damaged in anyway. Keeping the engine in good working order will also make the car run more efficiently.
Do you have any tips for how to get the best MPG? Feel free to share them with us in the comments section. For more information see this.
