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Green FAQs

Is a warm engine better than setting off cold?

When the engine is started, avoid idling to heat up the engine as this wastes fuel and causes engine wear

Is more fuel used if the engine is switched off when the vehicle is in a traffic jam?

Modern engines will not be affected by this, so switch off the engine whilst stuck in traffic. The recommendation is that the engine is switched off if the vehicle is going to be stationary for longer than 3 minutes. Recognising that many hours of urban driving are spent at a standstill, several car manufacturers have also started to introduce so-called "stop-start" technology, which conserves energy by shutting off the engine when the vehicle is at rest, such as at a traffic light, and automatically re-starting it when the driver pushes the gas pedal to go forward

What driving style should I adopt for eco-driving?

The vehicle should be driven smoothly, anticipate road conditions, avoiding harsh acceleration and heavy braking

Does it make a difference how much I carry in the vehicle?

Yes, make sure you anything that is not required for the journey is left behind. A heavier vehicle means increased in fuel consumption

Are short journeys the same as long journeys?

No, shorter journeys don't allow the engine to warm up enough, a cold engine uses almost twice as much fuel and catalytic converters can take five miles to become effective

What speed maximises fuel efficiency?

An ideal speed, providing it is legal, should be between 45mph and 50mph to maximise fuel efficiency

Should I be over-revving the engine before changing gear?

An upward gear change should be made between 2,000 rpm - 2,500 rpm for fuel efficient driving, depending on the vehicle and fuel type

Is the vehicles CO2 emissions information available?

You can find information about a vehicles CO2 emissions from the following sources:

• The environmental label which should be displayed on all new cars in showrooms. This grades each car from A, the cleanest, to G, the most polluting
• The Vehicle Certification Agency which has a database of cars with their fuel economy and CO2 emissions data
• Vehicle manufacturers are obliged to publish CO2 emission information by law

What if I am purchasing a second hand vehicle?

The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders has a database of vehicle CO2 emissions going back to January 1997