How tradespeople can reduce their van fuel costs

But just how much extra money will workers now have to pay out compared to last year?

Based on current fuel prices and the average cost to run a van per mile, we’ve created a van fuel cost calculator to see how hard tradespeople will be hit financially.

Cost of fuel calculator

Methodology below

Petrol calculator:

Diesel calculator:

How to reduce fuel costs

For tradespeople looking to reduce their driving costs, motoring experts Euro Car Parts have shared their top tips on increasing fuel efficiency.

1) Drive at one speed through speed bumps

Acceleration and deceleration whilst driving can mean extra fuel is used, and this includes driving over speed bumps, so learning how to properly tackle them can save motorists a lot of money.

Drivers can avoid unnecessary fuel consumption by driving at a constant speed and avoiding accelerating or braking too often in between speed bumps, which is when most fuel is used.

2) Strike the right balance with air conditioning

Using your car’s air conditioning can increase fuel consumption by up to 10%, however at higher speeds, opening windows will create wind resistance, which decreases efficiency.

Whilst stationary or at low speeds you should try to use your windows to keep cool and save the air con for use on the motorway, but even better try not to use it at all. Dress for the weather inside and outside the car so that you don’t have to use the heat settings as much.

3) Manage your revs

Most drivers barely look at the RPM (revolutions per minute) count when changing gear and rely on the sound or ‘feel’ of the engine. However, in doing so, you could be over-revving without knowing, and wasting fuel with each gear change.

The most fuel-efficient RPM to change up a gear is 2,500 for a petrol car and 2,000 for diesel. So next time you’re changing gear, keep an eye on the revs count, stick to that number and the pennies you’ll save will soon stack up.

Additionally, try to avoid dropping your revs too low, as this could cause unnecessary strain on the engine and waste fuel. Staying above 1,500 revs in petrol and 1,300 in diesel cars should comfortably avoid this.

4) Slow down on high-speed roads

Driving at high speeds down dual carriageways and motorways means your engine is operating at a higher RPM than it is on slower roads.

However, by simply slowing down a little on those fast roads you could end up saving a lot of money. The most efficient speed to drive at is between 55-65mph, and driving at 70mph compared to 80mph on a motorway could save you 25% more fuel.

5) Turn your engine off

It might seem obvious, but it’s worth remembering that keeping your engine idle whilst stationary still burns fuel.

Leaving your car running on a cold winter’s morning, or keeping the engine on whilst sat in stationary traffic, wastes a lot of unnecessary fuel. If you know you’re going to be stationary for some time, it’s a good idea to turn the engine off to conserve your petrol or diesel.

Wherever you’re driving for work, browse our site to stock up on supplies, from locks, safety and security, to cabinet and shelf hardware.

Methodology:

Average fuel prices on 1st July 2022, compared to 1st July 2021 (source)

·         Petrol: 191.43 per litre (2022) and 131.76 per litre (2021)

·         Diesel: 199.07 per litre (2022) and 134.36 per litre (2021)

Average MPG of 30.6 for UK vans

Annual costs based on 47 working weeks a year

Calculator source