'Eco-driving' can cut petrol bills: EU commission

Yahoo News 27 May 08;

European motorists, facing soaring petrol prices, could cut their fuel consumption by almost a third if they employ 10 simple "eco-driving" tips, the EU commission said Tuesday.

"This campaign provides a set of simple tips to reduce CO2 emissions and save money, simply by driving more intelligently," said EU Energy Commissioner Andris Piebalgs, launching the industry backed "Save more than Fuel" campaign.

"Learning a few tricks will help EU citizens to keep more fuel in their tanks, more money in their pockets and more CO2 out of the atmosphere", he added.

A leaflet, one of 30 million to be distributed at participating petrol stations through Europe, detailed the 10 key points highlighted in the clean driving campaign, including checking tyre pressure every month and closing windows at high speeds.

Other fuel-saving techniques include anticipating the flow of traffic ahead, to prevent sharp braking, and changing up the gears as quickly as possible when accelerating.

Piebalgs' spokesman, Ferran Tarradellas Espuny, told reporters that in trials at an "eco-driving school" drivers were able to cut their fuel consumption from 7.3 litres per 100 kilometres to 5.0 litres.

This, the spokesman added, would translate into savings of 500 euros (786 dollars) per 15,000 kilometres driven -- more if petrol prices rise much above 1.40 euros per litre.

Over 45,000 petrol stations across 29 European countries will take part in the campaign led by Europia -- the European petroleum industry association whose members include Gulf, Kuwait Petroleum, Swedish company Preem and British supermarket chain Tesco.

The European Union has committed to reducing its greenhouse gas emissions by 20 percent by 2020.

Reducing CO2 emissions from transport is an aspect of that plan though a target of increasing biofuels use to 10 percent of overall vehicle fuel has been criticised for threatening food stocks at a time of rising prices.

The full list of fuel-saving driving tips can be viewed on www.savemorethanfuel.eu