Go Further and Save Fuel for Greener Road Trips

Toronto, August 4, 2020 – This summer, the idea of hitting the open road is more appealing than ever for many Canadians. A road trip is an ideal option for exploring Canada’s unique communities and natural wonders, and Toyota Canada is offering drivers several suggestions for minimizing their environmental footprint while also limiting their trips to the gas pumps.

A national survey conducted by Ipsos on behalf of Toyota Canada found that 74 percent of Canadians changed their summer travel plans in response to COVID-19. While other modes of travel were not popular with respondents, 70 percent reported they felt comfortable travelling by car outside their local community and 49 percent said they plan to make at least one road trip over the summer months. Of those planning to hit the road this summer, most were opting to stay within 100km of home – making day trips the vacation of choice this year.

Fortunately, Toyota says there are many ways Canadians can explore the country by vehicle while minimizing their carbon footprint. Here are a few:

• Be light-footed: Anticipate traffic and respond by accelerating gently, decelerating carefully, and maintaining a steady speed.

• Don’t speed: In addition to being dangerous, speeding also burns more fuel and generates higher emissions.

• Stay on top of servicing: Changing the oil, inspecting and changing air filters, and other preventative maintenance keeps the engine operating at peak efficiency, reducing emissions (and prolonging the life of the vehicle).

• Give the tires some TLC: Changing the overall height of a tire will change its efficiency and performance, so always use the manufacturer’s recommended tire size on the vehicle. You should also be sure the tires are inflated to the pressure listed on the sticker on the inside of the driver’s side door jam.

• Don’t be a drag: To optimize the vehicle’s aerodynamics, remove roof racks, cargo boxes, bike racks and other accessories when not in use.

• Shed some weight: A lighter vehicle is a more efficient vehicle, so remove all non-essential items from the trunk / cargo area and cabin. If it’s not needed on the trip, leave it at home.

• Consider a buying a hybrid vehicle: To really save on fuel and carbon emissions, Canadian drivers in the market for a new vehicle should consider choosing a hybrid as their next vehicle. Hybrid vehicles combine the benefits of gas engines and electric motors to offer improved fuel efficiency. Using methods such as regenerative braking, hybrid batteries recharge themselves and do not need to be plugged in. Toyota hybrids use approximately 30 per cent less fuel compared to a conventional gas engine would to travel the same distance, which means they also generate fewer emissions.