Environment and eco-driving

Road traffic affects both the climate and the air we breathe. As a driver you can make a big difference through how you drive, how you look after the car and how you plan your journeys. Eco-driving (sparsam körning) is also often calmer and safer driving, and it saves money.

Eco-driving is not just good advice. Driving technique for lower fuel consumption is part of the overall assessment the driving examiner (trafikinspektör) makes during the practical driving test.

What comes out of the exhaust pipe?

• Carbon dioxide (koldioxid) (CO₂) is formed when petrol or diesel is burned. It affects the climate, and the amount is directly linked to how much fuel you use.
• Nitrogen oxides (kväveoxider) and particles (partiklar) impair air quality, especially in built-up areas, and can cause breathing and health problems.

Emissions of pollutants from road traffic generally increase at higher speeds. Lower speeds on certain streets can therefore reduce the levels of pollutants in the air.

Eco-driving – driving technique

Energimyndigheten (the Swedish Energy Agency) sums up eco-driving in a few pieces of advice:

Drive with anticipation

Look far ahead and try to read the traffic. If you see that the light further ahead is changing to red, you can release the accelerator in time and roll forward, instead of accelerating and then braking. Every unnecessary stop costs fuel when the car has to get back up to speed.

Change up early

Change up early and drive in as high a gear as possible without the engine labouring. Low engine speeds give lower consumption. If the car has an automatic gearbox, it takes care of this, but a gentle right foot helps.

Even acceleration

Avoid jerky acceleration. Steady pressure on the accelerator and an even speed use less fuel than constantly speeding up and slowing down.

Engine braking

When you release the accelerator with a gear engaged, the engine brakes the car (motorbromsning). In most modern cars the fuel supply is cut off during engine braking, so the car then rolls without using any fuel at all.

Keep to the speed limits

Air resistance increases sharply with speed. Transportstyrelsen (the Swedish Transport Agency) states that for every 10 km/h above about 70–75 km/h, consumption increases by 0.5–1.0 decilitres per mil (1 Swedish mil = 10 km). Driving at 110 instead of 90 can therefore cost 1–2 dl extra per mil, and the time saved is small.

Do not idle

Idling (tomgång) uses fuel and produces emissions without getting you anywhere. Switch off the engine when you are stationary for a longer time, for example when you are waiting for someone.

Look after the car

Tyre pressure

Too low a tyre pressure increases rolling resistance, and then more fuel is used. It also wears the tyres and can impair road holding. Energimyndigheten advises you to check the tyre pressure at least every other time you fill up.

Roof box and roof rack

A roof box or roof rack increases air resistance, even when they are empty. Remove them when you do not need them.

Unnecessary weight

It takes more energy to get a heavy car moving. Empty the boot of things you do not need to carry with you.

Cold starts and engine heaters

A cold engine uses more fuel and emits more pollutants before it has warmed up. Energimyndigheten advises you to use an engine heater (motorvärmare) when it is cold. Letting the engine idle to warm it up instead is not recommended. It uses fuel, and the engine warms up faster if you drive off gently.

Studded tyres and air quality

Studded tyres (dubbdäck) wear the road surface, and the wear puts particles into the air. To meet the environmental quality standard for particles, municipalities have since 2009 been able to decide on bans on driving with studded tyres on certain streets. Since 2011 the ban can apply to all roads within a certain area. If you drive with studded tyres in a city, you should therefore watch out for signs about studded tyre bans (dubbdäcksförbud).

Do not drive with studded tyres further into the spring than necessary. Studded tyres are permitted 1 October–15 April, and outside that period only if there are, or are expected to be, winter road conditions (vinterväglag).

Low-emission zones

A low-emission zone (miljözon) is an area where certain vehicles may not drive, in order to improve air quality. It is the municipalities that decide on low-emission zones. There are three classes:

• Class 1 applies to heavy lorries and buses.
• Class 2 applies to cars, light buses and light lorries. Petrol cars must meet Euro 5 or Euro 6 and diesel cars must meet Euro 6.
• Class 3 has the strictest requirements and applies to both light and heavy vehicles. Only electric vehicles, fuel cell vehicles and gas vehicles may drive there, and gas vehicles must meet the Euro 6 emission requirements (Euro VI for heavy vehicles). Heavy plug-in hybrids that meet Euro VI may also drive there, but plug-in hybrid cars may not.

Choose your mode of travel and plan

A journey that is not made has no emissions at all. Some questions to ask yourself:

• Would it work just as well to walk, cycle or take public transport?
• Can you combine several errands into one trip?
• Can you share a car?

Short journeys with a cold engine use the most fuel per kilometre. It is exactly those journeys that can often be made in another way.

Remember

• Eco-driving is assessed in the practical driving test.
• Drive with anticipation, change up early, keep an even speed and use engine braking.
• Every 10 km/h above 70–75 km/h increases consumption by 0.5–1.0 dl per mil.
• Check the tyre pressure at least every other fill-up and remove the roof box when it is not needed.
• Use an engine heater instead of warming the engine by idling.
• In a class 2 low-emission zone, Euro 6 is required for diesel cars and Euro 5 or 6 for petrol cars. Class 3 only allows electric, fuel cell and gas vehicles.