Options to Lower your Gas Prices - Things You Can Do
Here is a list of things you can do now (besides getting an EV) to lower gas prices. Start with the easiest, and work up to the rest. If you do everything on the list, you will pay just a fraction of your current gasoline bill.
Shopping: Here is where you can really cut your gas bill. The fact is that most driver trips are 5 miles or less. We use bikes and e-bikes to do most local errands. When the weather is good and sometimes not so good, bikes work well. You have the added benefit of a bit of physical fitness.
Commuting: Outline your options. We have used: car pooling, walking, cycling, biking, and transit. You might even consider moving closer to where you work. Check your range and then consider an ebike or escooter as well as a new Leaf or Volt.
Recreation: Do you drive for fun? Drive to places closer by at least part of the time. You will feel less stress than from a longer trip, get to know your neighborhood better, and have more time to party or relax. Oh yeah, you will spend less on gas.
Combine Trips: You've probably heard this before, but it really works. Try to think ahead a bit. The thing is to slow down a bit. How soon do you really need an item or an errand. Combining can be more stressful, but saves on gas and gives you more time later.
Reduce Vehicles: We used to have two cars, a truck, a motorcycle, a camper, and a number of bicycles. Transportation options were wide open. Then we noticed that each rig needed registration, insurance and gas for the motor vehicles....each year. If you have more than one vehicle, do the math.
Take a No Driving Day: At least once a week, park your cars and trucks. This simple move will cut the amount you spend on gas by 14%. That translates into $500 US per year for the average driver!
Maintain Your Vehicle: Keep your vehicle tuned up. Keep air in the tires. Air pressure has a lot to do with gas mileage. We run our tires at or slightly above the pressure printed on the sidewall. While some may disagree, this has always saved us money at the pump.
Driver Tips:
- Accelerate and stopping gently - saves about 30% on gas use
- Start your car and go, no warm up is needed for modern cars
- Cut idle times to a minute or two
- Use your over drive and cruise control on the highway when possible
- If your vehicle has a tachometer, use it. Keep the RPMs low for best MPG
- Limit your highway speed. From 60-70mph takes a lot more fuel...see graph curve
Know Your Gas Use
Finally, you need know how much gas you are buying on a regular basis. Take the
time to visit the MPG calculator to help in figuring your MPG, and how to lower gas prices.
Lowering your Gas Prices
If you need to know how to lower gas prices...read on. You can't bargain much
over the price per gallon, but you can change how much you use.
Lower Gas Prices At the Pump
Prices at the pump are determined by a complex interaction of oil futures market
prices, taxes, supply, demand, and economic conditions. These conditions are
beyond the control of any one user. If a lot of people were to modify their lifestyles
and use less gas, the demand would go down, and so would prices. More on that.
For this article, we assume that gas prices are fixed at the going market rate.
