If theres one thing you can bet on in todays economy, its regular fuel price hikes. And the occasional decrease in cost provides little relief as its usually followed by another even bigger increase. There are however ways to lighten the blow to your budget and vehicle manufacturers are doing their part too.
Nissan has already taken huge strides towards greener transport solutions. At the end of 2010, it officially launched the worlds first 100% mass-market produced, zero-emissions electric vehicle, the Nissan LEAF. The lithium-ion battery-powered EV boasts an 80kW power output and a top speed of 145km/h while it can travel up to 160km on just one charge. The Japanese automaker sold 20,000 units in its first year of production and even more in the years that followed. Owners have travelled millions of combined fuel-free kilometres and have individually saved thousands on fuel expenses. In fact, the LEAFs contribution to a reduction in the carbon footprint, earned it the prestigious 2011 World Car of the Year title.
Though the LEAF isnt available in South Africa yet, Nissan does provide the local market with fuel efficient vehicle options. The Nissan Micra hatch, NP200 bakkie and crossover Juke all offer class competitive fuel economy that could save owners thousands on their yearly fuel budgets. The 1.2L Nissan Micra petrol model for example promises exceptionally low combined fuel consumption figures of just 5.2L/100km, allowing you to travel over 20km on one litre of fuel so you dont need to fill up as often as you used to. The 1.5L dCi Nissan NP200 in turn will get the job done on only 6.4L/100km while the standard 1.6L Juke consumes an average of 7.2L/100km.
There are of course various other ways to lower your fuel expenditure, some more obvious than others such as car-pooling and making use of public transport. Reducing air conditioner usage, minimising vehicle idling, avoiding overloading and lowering wind resistance will definitely lower your vehicles fuel consumption. Dirty air filters and under-inflated tyres can also increase fuel usage, so its wise to ensure the regular maintenance of your vehicle. Aggressive driving such as tailgating, speeding, sudden braking and erratic acceleration will also raise your vehicles fuel consumption and cause unnecessary wear and tear. Congested traffic is another culprit to avoid, though the morning and afternoon city commute makes this near impossible. Should you have no alternative, opting for a smaller vehicle such as the Nissan Micra, would definitely lighten the financial load.
Nissan has already taken huge strides towards greener transport solutions. At the end of 2010, it officially launched the worlds first 100% mass-market produced, zero-emissions electric vehicle, the Nissan LEAF. The lithium-ion battery-powered EV boasts an 80kW power output and a top speed of 145km/h while it can travel up to 160km on just one charge. The Japanese automaker sold 20,000 units in its first year of production and even more in the years that followed. Owners have travelled millions of combined fuel-free kilometres and have individually saved thousands on fuel expenses. In fact, the LEAFs contribution to a reduction in the carbon footprint, earned it the prestigious 2011 World Car of the Year title.
Though the LEAF isnt available in South Africa yet, Nissan does provide the local market with fuel efficient vehicle options. The Nissan Micra hatch, NP200 bakkie and crossover Juke all offer class competitive fuel economy that could save owners thousands on their yearly fuel budgets. The 1.2L Nissan Micra petrol model for example promises exceptionally low combined fuel consumption figures of just 5.2L/100km, allowing you to travel over 20km on one litre of fuel so you dont need to fill up as often as you used to. The 1.5L dCi Nissan NP200 in turn will get the job done on only 6.4L/100km while the standard 1.6L Juke consumes an average of 7.2L/100km.
There are of course various other ways to lower your fuel expenditure, some more obvious than others such as car-pooling and making use of public transport. Reducing air conditioner usage, minimising vehicle idling, avoiding overloading and lowering wind resistance will definitely lower your vehicles fuel consumption. Dirty air filters and under-inflated tyres can also increase fuel usage, so its wise to ensure the regular maintenance of your vehicle. Aggressive driving such as tailgating, speeding, sudden braking and erratic acceleration will also raise your vehicles fuel consumption and cause unnecessary wear and tear. Congested traffic is another culprit to avoid, though the morning and afternoon city commute makes this near impossible. Should you have no alternative, opting for a smaller vehicle such as the Nissan Micra, would definitely lighten the financial load.