Track your fuel consumption
Many vehicles have fuel tracking systems, but you can also track your
fuel consumption yourself (to ensure accuracy), and monitor how many
kilometres you actually get out of a tank of fuel. Using fuel-efficient driving
practices can increase the distance you travel on every tank.
STArT TrACKIng YOUr OWn FUel COnSUMPTIOn BY FOllOWIng
FOUr eASY STePS.
Step 1: Fill up your vehicle’s fuel tank completely and record the vehicle’s
odometer reading (kilometres). For example: the last time the tank was filled,
the odometer reading was 40 200km.
Step 2: When it’s time to refuel, fill the tank completely and record both
the number of litres it took to fill the tank, and the vehicle’s new odometer
reading. Once two odometer readings have been taken, you can calculate
your vehicle’s fuel consumption. For example: it took 56 litres to fill the tank,
and this time around the odometer reading was 41 000km.
Step 3: Calculate the distance travelled by subtracting the previous
odometer reading from the new one. For example: the distance driven
would be 41 000km minus 40 200km = 800km.
Step 4: Divide the number of litres it took to fill the tank by the distance
travelled, and multiply the answer by 100. The result is the vehicle’s fuel
consumption for that driving period. For example: 56 litres ÷ 800km = 0.07.
It’s time to get SMART
The Travel SMART programme was developed by the City of Cape Town to
provide valuable information about more sustainable travel options, such
as forming or joining a lift club, using public transport, becoming a SMART
Driver, or switching to active mobility (non-motorised) options such as
bicycling or walking.
A more sustainable transport option can be:
• Cheaper. It can save you money by reducing your fuel, maintenance
and parking costs.
• healthier. It can boost your well-being and health, reducing stress
and enhancing productivity.
• greener. It can reduce your impact on the environment and your
carbon footprint.
• Better. By reducing your contribution to traffic congestion and
environmental degradation, you can contribute to a better quality
of life for all Capetonians.
For more information on the Travel SMART programme
and other modes of sustainable transport:
Visit our website at
www.capetown.gov.za/travelsmart
Email us at travel.smart@capetown.gov.za
WhAT IS YOUr VehICle COSTIng YOU?
Visit the Automobile Association of South Africa website:
For Public Transport Information
For the latest in fuel prices: www.aa.co.za/content/59/fuel-pricing/
TRAVEL SMART driver.indd 1
Promoting Sustainable Transport
Cheaper • Healthier • Greener • Better
Need more info about Travel SMART?
0.07 x 100 = 7.0 litres ( ) per 100 km.
Therefore the fuel consumption for that driving period was 7 /100km
For calculating the operating costs of your vehicle:
www.aa.co.za/content/62/vehicle-operating-costs/
travel SMART
Make the SMArT choice: become a SMArT Driver
and save fuel, money and the environment
For all information on Public Transport, call the City’s
Transport Information Centre (TIC), available 24/7,
on 0800 65 64 63.
2012/06/28 1:11 PM
Become a SMART Driver
Smarter use of your car:
If you must drive a car, then the City of Cape Town’s SMART Driver initiative
gives you the information you need to learn how to drive as efficiently as
possible. This will not only reduce your fuel consumption and costs, but also
your overall carbon footprint, ensuring a healthier environment for you, your
family and all Capetonians.
Motor vehicles are expensive to own and to run. Rising fuel prices mean higher
fuel costs; but these can be reduced with some smart thinking, based on:
• the way you drive;
• how you maintain your vehicle;
• the vehicle you use; and
• how often you use your vehicle.
Bad driving practices are a waste of energy as well as a waste of
your money.
You can save thousands of Rands per year in fuel and maintenance costs by
adopting a fuel-efficient mindset.
Why should we reduce our fuel use?
• Fuel demand pressures (rising fuel costs)
• Maintenance costs
• Greenhouse gas emissions
How SMART is your driving?
Vehicle kilometres travelled, fuel economy, vehicle technology, maintenance
practices and driving practices are factors that affect vehicle emissions. The
way in which the driver of a vehicle behaves while driving can have a dramatic effect on the amount of fuel consumed and emissions produced.
TRAVEL SMART driver.indd 2
Vehicle maintenance
•Keep your car well serviced and check the fluid levels regularly.
Servicing your vehicle regularly ensures that it performs at its best and uses
the least amount of fuel (fewer litres per kilometre = fuel economy). This
also means making sure there are no holes in the vehicle’s exhaust. Badly
maintained vehicles can increase fuel usage by as much as 50%.
•Check your tyre pressure monthly. Under-inflated tyres can increase
fuel consumption by up to 40%. Plus, they can cause accidents.
Driving your vehicle
• Remove unnecessary weight from your vehicle. The more you are
carrying in your boot or on your back seat, the heavier the car, the harder
the engine has to work, and the more fuel it consumes. So lighten the load!
• Close your windows at higher speeds, and remove empty roof
racks. This will reduce wind resistance and can lower your fuel consumption
by up to 10%. ‘Closing the windows’ also applies to sun roofs.
• Use air conditioning only when really necessary. Turning on your
air conditioner puts extra strain on your engine, and can increase fuel
consumption and CO2 emissions by up to 5%.
• Reduce idling. If you are going to come to a complete stop for more than
60 seconds (except when you are driving in traffic), turn off your engine.
This has minimal impact on the starter system, but if you idle for more than
10 seconds you have already used more fuel than it takes to restart your car.
• Try to anticipate traffic flow. Look at the traffic as far ahead as
possible in order to avoid unnecessary stopping and starting.
Get SMART with low-impact vehicles
All new cars sold in South Africa must display their fuel consumption and
emission figures on the windscreen. Of course, as great as they are, hybrid
or electric vehicles are beyond the reach of most of our wallets right now.
But if you are in the market for a new car, you can at least choose one
that’s small, with low fuel consumption and low carbon emissions – and
preferably, one that’s made locally.
Also consider the following when choosing a new car:
•Manual transmission: Weighs less, and is mechanically more
efficient than an automatic.
•Cruise control: Improves efficiency on flat highways, and prevents
inadvertent speeding
•Tinted glass: Reduces the cooling load on the engine associated
with air-conditioning.
Of course, you could also consider the following:
•Invest in satellite navigation. Shorter routes minimise the use
of fuel, and therefore equate to money saved.
•Use the phone or internet instead of driving around town
looking for a particular place!
When you become a SMART Driver
You win with:
• Reduced fuel costs; • Reduced maintenance costs; • Reduced stress
levels; and • Feeling healthier.
Our City and its communities win with:
• Less traffic noise and congestion; • Improved sense of community
and safer streets; • Better local living environment; • Reduction in local
government expenditure on transport-related infrastructure.
And the environment wins with:
• Cleaner air; • A smaller amount of greenhouse gases emitted.
2012/06/28 1:11 PM