Buying a Fuel-Efficient Vehicle

A big investment - $15,000 and up.	Usually requires a fair bit of research.	Potentially big. Depending on what you buy and how much you drive, you can perhaps reduce your greenhouse gas (GHGs) emissions by a couple of tonnes per year.

Why does the kind of car I drive matter?

The vehicles we drive are a significant piece of our environmental footprint. Typically they are the second largest source for individual greenhouse gases (five tones annually) after our homes. Nationally, transportation accounts for approximately 29% of Canada’s GHG emissions. Taking into account the kind of car you really need is all part of the solution. 

What size of vehicle should I buy?

Buy the smallest vehicle that suits your everyday needs.  For example, there’s not much sense buying a large van for one week of family vacation when you’re driving it alone, to and from work, the rest of the year.

What's the next step?

Find a model that beats the fuel consumption average in that class of vehicle. Every new vehicle has an EnerGuide label, which provides estimates of city and highway mileage (in both litres of fuel per 100 kilometres and miles per gallon) and annual fuel costs.  The federal Office of Energy Efficiency (OEE) posts this information on its website, where you can also compare the fuel efficiency of vehicles in a particular class.  Every year, the OEE publishes a list of the most energy-efficient vehicles in each class, ranging from subcompacts to pickup trucks.

What about buying a hybrid?

The hybrid is typically going to be your most fuel-efficient option. Visit www.hybridexperience.com to find out what the payback is.

What about buying a diesel vehicle?

Some diesel vehicles rival hybrids in highway fuel economy, and new, low-sulphur regulations now allow diesel vehicles to meet the same emission standards as gasoline-powered vehicles.  A growing number of North American auto makers are adding diesel vehicles to their lineups.

Should I consider buying a used vehicle?

Buying a used vehicle can make economic and environmental sense, as long as it’s only about six years old.  Vehicles much older than that can emit considerably more air pollutants than newer models.  

What should I do with my old car?

If it’s a 1995 model or older, consider donating it to the Retire Your Ride program for recycling (www.retireyourride.ca).  Older vehicles are typically 19 times more polluting than models made after 2004.  Donate a 1995 or older vehicle to Retire Your Ride and you can receive a variety of reward options.

How can I maximize my fuel efficiency once I've bought a vehicle?

By far the best thing you can do is drive less.  Remember, a vehicle that isn’t being driven doesn’t pollute or burn fuel, regardless of how inefficient it is.  For starters, see if you can leave your vehicle at home one workday a week and instead commute by public transit, bicycle, carpool or on foot; or perhaps you can work at home one day a week.  Leaving your car at home one day a week will cut your vehicle fuel bill by about 15 per cent and reduce vehicle wear.  Also, try to combine several errands in one vehicle trip and organize those trips around geographical areas, so you’re not driving all over town.

When you are driving, here are some things you can do to improve your fuel efficiency:

• Don’t warm up your car by idling – it doesn’t need it – and turn it off if you’re stopped or parked for more than 10 seconds, except in traffic.
• Accelerate slowly and steadily when leaving a stop sign or traffic light.
• Reduce your highway speed by 10 kilometres per hour and cut your fuel consumption by about 10 per cent.
• Keep your tires properly inflated and improve your fuel efficiency.
  Ten per cent under inflation equals two per cent increased fuel consumption (multiplied by four tires).
• Don’t use your vehicle as a storage shed. Carrying around extra items adds weight and reduces fuel economy.