A world-record-holding expert in fuel-efficient driving has outlined seven rules that can save around £200 a year on fuel, as diesel prices reach a fresh all-time high. Kevin Booker, from Wales, uses the 'hypermiling' technique to extract as many miles as possible from a tank.
Booker says adapting your driving style can save as much as £200 annually, news that comes as the average price of diesel rocketed to 199.72p per litre this week. Diesel has now surpassed the previous peak of 199.09p set in June 2022, and costs 57.3p more per litre than at the start of the US-Iran war on February 28.
Fuel costs climbing
Unleaded petrol has also been climbing and now averages 174.54p per litre. According to the RAC, filling an average family car now costs almost £110 - £31 more than at the start of the conflict.
Booker explained that being "heavy with the throttle and brakes" wastes energy and uses fuel quicker. "Efficiency is not just about the car you buy, but how you use it," he said.
The seven rules of hypermiling
- Look further ahead – spotting traffic and junctions early gives more time to slow gently instead of braking hard and accelerating again.
- Empty the boot – carrying unnecessary weight makes the car work harder; remove unused roof boxes or racks to reduce drag.
- Keep a steady motorway speed – repeated accelerating and overtaking uses more fuel without much difference to arrival time.
- Check your tyres – under-inflated tyres increase rolling resistance; check pressures regularly against the car's recommended levels.
- Make use of hills – anticipate the road and carry momentum where safe; in a hybrid, slowing on a descent can recover energy through regenerative braking.
- Take corners smoothly – get down to an appropriate speed before the bend, then avoid unnecessary braking and acceleration.
- Keep up with servicing – a properly maintained car runs more efficiently, so don't neglect routine servicing and the correct oil and components.
Real-world results
Booker tested his tips in the Dacia Duster Journey hybrid 155, which combines a petrol engine with two electric motors. He achieved 79 miles per gallon in real-world driving, compared with its official economy figure of 61.4mpg.
Based on his result, a driver covering 7,100 miles a year could save around £204 at current petrol prices. For someone driving 10,000 miles a year, the illustrated saving rises to nearly £290.
A Dacia spokesperson said: “People can’t control the price at the pump, but simple changes to how they drive and maintain their car can help each tank go further.”
On Wednesday, prime minister Andy Burnham said “every possible measure” was being considered to ease the cost of driving, leaving the door open for a possible scrapping of the fuel duty increase planned for January. He said it is not an overstatement to describe the situation as an energy crisis, with both prices at the pumps and household electricity and gas bills increasing.
Fuel duty is due to rise by 3p per litre on January 1. Asked whether he would halt the change, Mr Burnham told the BBC: "I’m considering everything that might help people in very difficult times and I will be honest and say every possible measure is being looked at."
Mr Burnham previously warned that chancellor John Healey does not have “huge room for manoeuvre” as he draws up his first Budget, which he is due to unveil on October 28.
