Fuel Economy in Cold Weather

Cold weather and winter driving conditions can significantly reduce fuel economy. Fuel economy tests show that, in city driving, a conventional gasoline car's gas mileage is roughly 15% lower at 20°F than it would be at 77°F. It can drop as much as 24% for short (3- to 4-mile) trips.

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Cold weather effects can vary by vehicle model. However, expect conventional gasoline vehicles to suffer a 10% to 20% fuel economy loss in city driving and a 15% to 33% loss on short trips.

The effect on hybrids is typically greater - with fuel economy dropping about 30% to 34% under these conditions. For hybrids, fuel economy typically decreases by 20% to 40% in city driving and 25% to 45% on short trips.

For electric vehicles (EVs), fuel economy can drop roughly 39% in mixed city and highway driving, and range can drop by 41%. About two-thirds of the extra energy consumed is used to heat the cabin.  When the cabin heater is not used, EV fuel economy is 8% lower at 20°F than at 75°F. Driving range is about 12% lower.

Why Winter Fuel Economy is Lower

Cold weather affects vehicles in more ways than one might expect:

• Engine and transmission friction increases in cold temperatures due to cold engine oil and other drive-line fluids.
• It takes longer for an engine to reach its most fuel-efficient temperature. This affects shorter trips more, since a vehicle spends more of a short trip at less-than-optimal temperatures.
• Heated seats, window defrosters, and heater fans use additional power.
• Warming up a vehicle before starting a trip lowers fuel economy&#;idling gets 0 miles per gallon.
• Colder air is denser, increasing aerodynamic drag on a vehicle, especially at highway speeds.
• Tire pressure decreases in colder temperatures, increasing rolling resistance.
• Winter grades of gasoline can have slightly less energy per gallon than summer blends.
• Battery performance decreases in cold weather, making it harder for the alternator to keep the battery charged. This also affects the performance of the regenerative braking system on hybrids, plug-in hybrids, and electric vehicles.

In severe winter weather, mpg can drop even further.

• Icy or snow-covered roads decreases the tire's grip on the road, wasting energy.
• Safe driving speeds on slick roads can be much lower than normal, further reducing fuel economy, especially at speeds below 30 to 40 mph.
• Using four-wheel drive uses more fuel.

How to Improve Fuel Economy in Cold Weather

While it may not be possible to completely mitigate cold weather's effect on fuel economy, there are some simple steps to lessen the reduction in gas mileage:

• Park in a warmer place, such as a garage, to increase the initial temperature of the engine and cabin.
• Combine trips when possible, to lessen the amount of driving with a cold engine.
• Minimize idling to warm up the car. Most manufacturers recommend driving off gently after about 30 seconds. The engine will warm up faster being driven, which will allow the heat to turn on sooner, decreasing fuel costs, and reducing emissions.
• Don't use seat warmers or defrosters more than necessary.
• Check tire pressure regularly.
• Use the type of oil recommended for cold weather driving by the vehicle manufacturer.
• Remove accessories that increase wind resistance, like roof racks, when not in use.
• For a plug-in hybrid or electric vehicle, preheating the cabin while plugged into the charger can extend the vehicle's range.
• Also for a plug-in hybrid or electric vehicle, using the seat warmers instead of the cabin heater can save energy and extend range.

Fuel-efficient driving can save you hundreds of dollars in fuel each year, improve road safety and prevent wear on your vehicle. Adopt these 5 fuel-efficient driving techniques to lower your vehicle&#;s fuel consumption and carbon dioxide emissions by as much as 25%.

1. Accelerate gently

The harder you accelerate the more fuel you use. In the city, you can use less fuel by easing onto the accelerator pedal gently. To be as fuel-efficient as possible, take 5 seconds to accelerate your vehicle up to 20 kilometres per hour from a stop. Imagine an open cup of coffee on the dashboard. Don&#;t spill it!

2. Maintain a steady speed

When your speed dips and bursts, you use more fuel, and spend more money, than you need to. Tests have shown that varying your speed up and down between 75 and 85 km per hour every 18 seconds can increase your fuel use by 20%.

Consider using cruise control for highway driving, where conditions permit. Be mindful, however, that little variations in speed can actually be good when gravity does the work. Where traffic patterns permit, allow your speed to drop when you travel uphill, then regain your momentum as you roll downhill.

3. Anticipate traffic

Look ahead while you&#;re driving to see what is coming up. And keep a comfortable distance between your vehicle and the one in front of you. By looking closely at what pedestrians and other cars are doing, and imagining what they&#;ll do next, you can keep your speed as steady as possible and use less fuel. It&#;s also safer to drive this way.

4. Avoid high speeds

Keep to the speed limit and save on fuel! Most cars, vans, pickup trucks and SUVs are most fuel-efficient when they&#;re travelling between 50 and 80 km per hour. Above this speed zone, vehicles use increasingly more fuel the faster they go.

For example, at 120 km per hour, a vehicle uses about 20% more fuel than at 100 km per hour. On a 25-km trip, this spike in speed &#; and fuel consumption &#; would cut just two minutes from your travel time.

5. Coast to decelerate

Every time you use your brakes, you waste your forward momentum. By looking ahead at how traffic is behaving, you can often see well in advance when it&#;s time to slow down. You will conserve fuel and save money by taking your foot off the accelerator and coasting to slow down instead of using your brakes.

Take the free online ecoDriving course to learn more about how fuel-efficient driving can help you save money and reduce your greenhouse gas emissions.

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More ways to use less fuel

Here are more easy ways you can reduce your fuel consumption and costs:

Avoid idling your vehicle

Turn off your engine when you&#;re stopped for more than 60 seconds, except when in traffic. The average vehicle with a 3-litre engine wastes 300 millilitres (over 1 cup) of fuel for every 10 minutes it idles.

Measure your tire pressure every month

Driving a vehicle with tires under-inflated by 56 kilopascals (8 pounds per square inch) can increase fuel consumption by up to 4%. It can also reduce the life of your tires by more than 10,000 kilometres. Find the right tire pressure for your vehicle on the tire information placard. It&#;s usually on the edge of the driver&#;s door or doorpost. Learn more about tire maintenance.

Use a manual transmission properly

Pay attention to the tachometer, which shows engine speed. Use it to know when to shift a manual transmission for the best fuel efficiency. The higher the rpm, the more fuel the engine is burning. So shift through the lower gears smoothly and quickly, and build up speed in the higher gears.

Don&#;t carry unnecessary weight

Remove items such as salt, sand and sports equipment from your vehicle. The less it weighs, the less fuel your vehicle will use. The fuel consumption of a mid-size car increases by about 1% for every 25 kilograms of weight it carries.

Remove roof or bicycle racks

Streamline your vehicle by taking off the racks when you&#;re not using them. Aerodynamic drag can increase fuel consumption by as much as 20% on the highway.

Use air conditioning sparingly

Air conditioning can increase a vehicle&#;s fuel consumption by as much as 20%. Open the windows when you&#;re driving in the city, and use the flow-through ventilation system with the windows up on the highway. If you do use air conditioning, use the re-circulate option. It will minimize the impact.

Use a fuel consumption display

See the impact of the 5 fuel-efficient driving techniques firsthand with the help of a fuel consumption display, a feature now standard on many vehicles. (Some newer vehicles come equipped with even more sophisticated displays that analyze speed variations, shift points for manual transmissions, and driving behaviours such as acceleration and braking times.)

Many drivers consume 15% less fuel by acting on the feedback that fuel consumption displays provide.

Track your fuel consumption

How long can you go without filling your tank? Two weeks? A month?

Challenge yourself to refill as seldom as possible and your monthly costs will come down.

Plan ahead

• Map out your route, especially if it&#;s long
• Listen to traffic reports and avoid accidents, road construction and other trouble spots
• Avoid roads that cut through major cities and are dotted with stoplights, intersections and pedestrians
• Use four-lane highways when you can

Combine trips

Longer excursions let your vehicle&#;s engine warm up to its most fuel-efficient temperature.

• Run your errands one after the other
• Plan your route to avoid backtracking and rush-hour traffic

Drive less

The best way reduce fuel consumption is to drive less.

• Walk or bike to your destination. You&#;ll use no fuel and have a healthier lifestyle
• Use public transit
• Join a car or van pool. You and your group will save fuel and avoid emitting tonnes of air pollutants a year
• Work from home when you can. Every day you telecommute reduces the amount of fuel you use by 20%

Challenge yourself

Committed to saving money and shrinking your environmental footprint? Use this personal action plan to achieve your goals.

Your Personal Action Plan

Your fuel-savings target: &#;&#;&#;%

Ways to reach your goal

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1. Drive for maximum fuel efficiency
   • Accelerate gently
   • Maintain a steady speed
   • Anticipate traffic
   • Avoid high speeds
   • Coast to decelerate
2. Adopt other tips and tricks
   • Avoid unnecessary idling
   • Measure tire pressure monthly
   • Use a manual transmission properly
   • Avoid carrying unnecessary weight
   • Remove roof or bicycle racks not in use
   • Use air conditioning sparingly
   • Use a fuel consumption display
   • Track fuel consumption
   • Plan ahead
   • Combine trips
   • Drive less often