Swapping tips on how to end era of gas guzzlers

With gasoline selling at an average price of 1,978.86 won ($ 1.70 ) per liter in Korea due to rising crude oil prices, drivers are agonizing over how to save on their fuel expenses. Popular measures include resorting more to public transportation, sharing rides with colleagues during commuting hours or turning off air conditioners and heaters while driving.

Three people who were named best drivers at the automakers’ fuel economy awards shared their tips on how they managed to get more miles per liter out of their vehicles while keeping their cars in optimum condition.

Reading the terrain

Kim Jeong-hyeon, who won the Sonata Hybrid Fuel Economy Contest hosted by Hyundai Motor in October, said his secret is using his brakes sparingly.

He also checks traffic lights far ahead to maintain a consistent driving speed and guzzle less gas by avoiding hitting the accelerator.

“I control my speed by keeping tabs on the cars around me and reading traffic lights far away,” Kim said. “You need to use the brakes carefully because sudden or hard braking costs you more fuel.”

At the October contest, Kim achieved an average fuel consumption of 22.4 kilometers per liter with a Sonata Hybrid. Hyundai Motor said he beat the official fuel economy rate of 21 kilometers per liter designated for the model.

“Keep your car light,” he said. “Don’t carry any items that you won’t be needing that day. It’s also important to keep your car clean, because even dust and dirt on your car affects fuel economy. Don’t open and close the electronic windows frequently - that’s another way to boost your fuel efficiency.”

Surprisingly, Kim managed to achieve the feat without resorting to a GPS navigation device, considered a must-have gadget for drivers who want to find short cuts to save fuel.

“I’ve driven every inch of the country and there are very few roads that are unfamiliar to me,” Kim said. “Without using GPS commands, I can intuitively get anywhere fast on less fuel.”

Pedal off the metal

Jeong Ki-woon, who won the Peugeot Eco-marathon last year, advised people to take it easy when pumping the gas.

“Rapid acceleration wastes fuel,” Jeong said. “People casually push down too hard on the accelerator when they start moving. But the more you do this, the more fuel is wasted. You really need to learn how to apply 20 different levels of pressure on your accelerator to maximize gas usage.”

He said drivers should allow their vehicles to coast along at an even speed with the slightest pressure on the accelerator pedal when navigating around hills. On flats and downhill gradients, Kim said there is usually no need to hit the gas pedal.

In last year’s fuel economy contest organized by Peugeot, he achieved 30.3 kilometers per liter with his Peugeot 308SW HDi sedan, which has an official fuel efficiency rate of 15.6 kilometers per liter, according to the automaker.

But Kim said he does not pay much attention to the weight of his vehicle and how it impacts fuel efficiency, adding that there was no noticeable difference when he removed the spare tire from his trunk.

Rather, he found it more effective to maintain an even distribution of weight among the various parts of the vehicle - left and right, front and rear - which he claims cut his fuel usage by up to 30 percent.

Despite loading his trunk up with sporting paraphernalia and car washing utensils, however, he said he always wore shoes with a thin outer sole when driving.

“This enables me to apply minimum pressure on the accelerator pedal, which also helps save fuel,” he said.

Coasting along

Kim Seong-kyeong, who was named the king of fuel economy at the Toyota Prius free rental contest in October, manages to cut costs while ferrying his family around.

Although Kim only managed a fuel economy rate of 26.3 kilometer per liter - around 3 kilometers short of the Japanese hybrid’s official rate - he still managed to beat 99 other contestants.

“It’s important to coast along when going up and down hills without losing your speed,” Kim said. “That’s why I never stop or accelerate abruptly. You also need to be patient, and not to go too fast unless you feel it’s necessary.”

A brief ride with Kim showed that he rarely changes lanes and frequently monitors the dashboard to check fuel efficiency.

Kim said his parents helped instill an eco-friendly driving ethos in him when he learned to drive while still a teenager living in Australia.

“My parents always had to accompany me in the car during my two-year probationary period [required to obtain a license there],” he said. “My father scolded me whenever I abruptly hit the gas.”

By Kang Byong-chol, Kim Mi-ju [mijukim@joongang.co.kr]