The Best Ways To Save Fuel

Posted on July 5, 2022 by Louis Watton

The cost of living crisis is well and truly upon us with prices shooting up in almost every aspect of life. Fuel is one of the commodities that was hit hardest – prices have shot from 145 pence per litre of petrol at the start of the year to 191 pence in the space of just 6 months. Times are harder for everyone, so with this in mind, we thought our readers could use some tips on how to save fuel this summer.

Be A Fuel Conscious Driver

It may not seem like it, but even the way you drive can alter the amount of fuel your vehicle consumes. The quickest way to waste fuel is to drive excessively fast, and so the first thing you should do is focus on having a light acceleration (accelerating is fine, it just doesn’t need to be pedal to the metal every time!). You should also always try and drive in the highest possible gear (whilst obviously keeping under the speed limit).

In general, slowing down and accelerating use more fuel, and so the less you can do this the better. It’s a bit of an art, but once you learn to read the roads and are able to anticipate, for example, an oncoming red light and slowly slow down rather than a hard break you will save fuel.

Watch Your Car Weight

Whilst the impact your vehicle’s weight will have on its fuel consumption rate is small, every little helps. Logically, a heavier vehicle will require more fuel to move, so ensure you are not travelling with unnecessary heavy items in the vehicle or boot. This also goes for roof racks and roof boxes, which have the added issue of increasing drag and therefore causing a lot more fuel to be consumed for the same vehicle over the same distance.

Air Conditioning

This one is nice and easy, if not a little uncomfortable at times! Air conditioning uses engine power, meaning it also increases the rate at which your vehicle consumes fuel. Always ensure you are dressed for the temperature in your car so as to avoid the extra costs.

We hope these tips help you save some fuel (and money), and remember, if you need anything delivered, try Shiply!

Tips for drivers as the colder weather approaches

Posted on October 13, 2017 by admin

Image Source: consumerreports.org

Consider getting your vehicle serviced

If there’s something wrong with your vehicle already, the cold weather may exacerbate an existing problem. If your MOT is due soon, take a close look at the advisories and think about what effect that colder weather could have on them if left unfixed.

Keep warm clothes in your boot

If you’ll be driving a lot of long-distance journeys in the next few months, you might want to keep a bag in your vehicle with a change of clothes, or an extra jumper or blanket. This will keep you warm if you were to break down as you wait for a recovery vehicle to reach you. This is particularly important if you’ll be driving through rural areas or on days where there may be limited recovery available (eg. Christmas Day).

Consider getting a dash cam

Even if you know you’re a careful driver, there could be a time where you are involved in an accident and there are no witnesses, and it’s your word against theirs. Having recorded footage on a dash cam could help to allocate accountability with confidence. This is something to consider using all year round, but icy or slippery conditions can make accidents more likely and dash cams more likely to be needed.

Check your tyres regularly

Tyres should always be checked regularly, so make sure you keep this up. Tyres without sufficient tread depth will be especially unhelpful in snowy or icy conditions and it’s good tyres that prevent slipping and sliding.

Stay safe this winter!

Watch out for the T-Charge!

Posted on September 29, 2017September 29, 2017 by admin

Shiply blog image

Image Source: independent.co.uk

On 23 October, the T- Charge (Toxicity Charge) will be introduced in London for certain vehicles. Any vehicle that doesn’t meet the minimum euro emission standards will need to pay an extra fee of £10 when entering the congestion charge zone in Central London (unless you are a resident, where a discount is available).
The T-charge comes as another way to tackle air pollution in central London, by discouraging those with older and more polluting vehicles adding to the poor air quality that current exists in the capital. The pollution level is currently much higher than it should be, and considered to be a ‘health crisis’ by London’s Mayor Sadiq Khan, with forty thousand deaths in London per year linked to emissions from traffic and factories.

The T-charge kicks off the move towards London becoming an Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ), which, when has been implemented, will mean the end of the T-Charge.

How can I avoid the charge?
Check your vehicle’s V5C to find out your Euro emission standard and once you know, take a look at the table on the TfL website to see if you’ll be affected. If you’re going into the T-charge/congestion charge zone regularly for work, you may want to consider changing your vehicle (if possible), which may work out cheaper in the long run, or you may want to consider taking a different route that avoids the central area.

If you’re driving into the T-charge zone for leisure, public transport is a much better option (if you can). It’ll work out much cheaper, will lower your emissions and you’re likely to get to your destination(s) much faster.
The T-charge will be in operation on weekdays 7am – 6pm.

Will you be affected by the T-Charge? What changes will you be making to avoid the charge?

Top 5 Ugly Cars on the Road

Posted on May 11, 2017May 11, 2017 by admin

If you watched the latest episode of Top Gear (Series 24 Episode 7), you will have seen the yacht-inspired SsangYong Rodius, a car that has been subjected to insults about its appearance since it’s launch in 2004, and described by BOAT magazine as the ‘World’s Ugliest Car’.

This inspired us at Shiply to write a list of what we think are the 5 ugliest cars on the road today:

5. In fifth place is the Suzuki Wagon R+. Not only does it look disappointing, reviewers also report its performance outside urban environments as a little ugly too…

Image Source: parkers.co.uk

4. In fourth place is the aggressive-looking Nissan Juke. A small SUV made to rival conventional hatchbacks. We’ll stick to the conventional ones thanks…

: Image Source: nissan.co.za

3. In third place is the Smart Roadster. We’d only just got used to the quirky, standard Smart Car, then this came along. It looks more like something out of the Legoland driving school than fit for a real road!

: Image Source: parkers.co.uk

2. Our runner up is the first generation Ford KA, which despite its ugliness, sold extremely well following its release in 1996. Thankfully the newer versions are easier on the eye.

Image Source: johntopley.com

1. In well-deserved first place has got to be the Fiat Multipla. That crease below the windscreen looks like a pimply furrowed brow. The sooner it’s off our roads, the better!

: Image Source: cars-data.com

Do you agree with our list? Let us know!