Fuelsaving

Fuelsaving, sometimes written as fuel saving or fuel-saving, is the practice of reducing the amount of fuel required to perform a given amount of work. It encompasses technologies, designs, and behaviors that lower energy use and emissions across transportation, industry, and buildings.

In transportation, fuel saving is achieved through efficient engine design, transmissions, aerodynamics, and lightweight construction. Propulsion options include hybrid powertrains, plug-in hybrids, battery electric vehicles, and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles. Other measures include proper maintenance (engine tuning, clean injectors), tire inflation, reduced idling, and weight reduction; driving behavior such as smooth acceleration, steady speeds, and route planning can yield significant gains.

In industry and buildings, fuel saving relies on process optimization, energy management systems, waste heat recovery, cogeneration, and equipment upgrades. Buildings reduce fuel use through insulation, efficient heating and cooling, variable speed drives, and energy auditing. Transportation and industrial sectors often use metering and energy management to target high-consumption processes.

Policy and market measures support fuelsaving through fuel economy standards, subsidies for efficient technologies, and fuel taxes that incentivize conservation. Information programs, efficiency criteria for procurement, and incentives for low-emission vehicles and equipment further encourage adoption.

Performance is typically measured by fuel consumption per distance or output, such as miles per gallon, liters per 100 kilometers, or energy intensity. Implementing fuelsaving can involve upfront costs and maintenance considerations; benefits include lower operating costs, reduced emissions, and improved energy security. Safety, reliability, and user acceptance are important factors in the successful adoption of fuelsaving strategies.