Whether you're driving an electric vehicle or filling up with E85 ethanol, there is always more of an environmental impact than you might think. For example, the electricity that powers some of today's vehicles has to be produced somewhere. In the United States, most of our electricity is generated from fossil fuels and about one third comes from coal-fired power plants (which are our nation's leading source of carbon emissions). Moreover, corn-based ethanol competes with our food crops, doesn't get as good of gas mileage and has to be distributed via road or rail transport.
Reduce the Junk in the Trunk
There is so much talk today about making a smaller environmental footprint that it is easy to lose sight of what each of us can do to limit air pollution. Being a conscientious driver and keeping your vehicle well maintained are both eco-friendly strategies. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, simple maintenance for brakes, spark plugs and tire pressure can improve your mileage by as much as 40%. Plus, check your vehicle's trunk. It burns a lot more fuel if you're hauling junk in the trunk everywhere you go.
Good Driving Habits Can Help the Environment
Heavy braking and excessive acceleration both cause your vehicle to use more gasoline. A good guide for developing more environmental-friendly driving techniques is to emulate your cruise control mode. Smooth acceleration and braking will not only help reduce gas consumption, but can go a long way in helping to make our highways safer. If you live in an area where you have very comfortable spring and summer months, then turning off your air conditioner and rolling down the windows can improve fuel economy.
Generally speaking, any aggressive driving, such as speeding, will require your vehicle to burn more gas. So, avoid gunning the engine for jackrabbit starts and only come to a screeching halt when it is required for safety. If you have a manual transmission, watch your RPMs and use the highest gear that is practical on the road. Some drivers are obsessive when it comes to sitting at an idle. Idling for more than a couple of minutes takes more fuel than restarting your vehicle when you're ready to roll.
So, think green and drive green. When it is time to change your spark plugs, choose E3 spark plugs for your car, truck, motorcycle or lawn mower. Our plugs were Born to Burn.
