Everybody in the world is facing the ‘fuel on fire’ situation. Day by day rising prices in the petroleum items are making the situation more and more difficult. The worst thing is we can not generate the crude oil; we can only pump up from the stomach of the earth. And experts says according to raise in the rate of consumption, the stock will end up after 80 to 100 years. Why the price rises? Ans. - when the demand exceeds than supply. And why demand exceeds? Because of consumption exceeds. Problem is serious.
Now question comes, why consumption exceeds?
Answer - Two reasons, firstly, users increased. Secondly, the methods of consumption.
To control the increase in numbers of user is bit difficult but we can control the methods of consumptions. Most of the crude in the world is consumed by vehicles. If we have gentle driving then we can save the unnecessary wastage of fuel. Learning the art of gentle driving is need of today.
Tips of gentle driving:
1. Acceleration increases injection of fuel to the engine. More is the acceleration more the injection of fuel in the engine. So keep your vehicles speed between 40-60 kmph. This range of speed is applicable to 80% transport and non-transport vehicles. The range is differing for heavy vehicles like earth moving vehicle, cranes, etc.
2. Follow the speed to gear shift ratio i.e. 0-10 kmph: 1st gear, 10-20 kmph: 2nd gear, 20-30 kmph: 3rd gear, 30-50 kmph: 4th gear, 50 kmph onwards: 5th gear.
3. Refill the engine oil and gear oil after every 1000 kms.
4. Check the tire pressure weekly. Replace tires after 30000 kms. Rotate the tire positions in each servicing with wheel alignment and wheel balancing.
5. Reduce the frequent use of clutch and breaks.
6. Avoid carrying unwanted weights on vehicles.
7. Keep engine idling 0 kmph.
8. Put off the engine when stopped more than 2 minutes.
9. Avoid using the remote starter like pre-heat unit or pre-cool unit.
10. Follow traffic rules and avoid rash driving.
The future options:
We must concentrate on the invention of hybrid solar vehicle (HSV). It runs on the conventional fuel as well as electricity stored in the battery by the photo voltaic panels. Use of catalytic converter in the exhaust systems also reduces carbon emission and increases fuel efficiency. There is automotive fuel consumption measuring device that can assists us to read out consumption rate according to driving. Fuel cell energized vehicles can be the best replacement of conventional fuel vehicles. But infrastructural demand of transportation of hydrogen is the big stone between its development.
Roll of Government:
Like china government, each government should take part positively by developing the vehicle fuel consumption control systems. Build up urban traffic control strategy by transportation planning and technology, rectifying transport geography. There must be strict regulations for vehicle fuel consumption on the vehicle manufacturer. And the regulations for the users such as periodic pollution control certification. There must be encouragement for the use of public transport like trains, buses, trams. The fuel dependent sports like car racing, etc must be reduced.
It is in our hand to save for best or use to waste. We should not keep our next generations in the suffering.
