The cutting edge of eco technology

PHOTO SUPPLIED

The Kiwi shows you how you’re driving in terms of economy.

Michael Banovsky

SPECIAL TO THE STAR

When fuel prices rise, snake oil salesman start seeping into the market. They often promise everything: fuel economy and performance, in a product that’s good for the environment — all with a low price.

But real green technology takes time, energy and money to develop. You can’t just attach something to a modern car and expect to see results, because vehicles today come so finely tuned and often can already often adapt to different air and fuel qualities.

Improving on what comes from the automaker’s factory is a multi-billion-dollar industry but takes real research and development cash, time, and effort.

From mild to wild, these five areas are the most promising ways to reduce your impact on the environment while in most cases improving performance. Being green doesn’t always have to be a compromise.

Oil

Oil? Are you crazy? What’s oil going to do?

Don’t forget that oil is used to lubricate all of the things inside your engine. Although it’s a fluid, standard-weight oil isn’t often optimized to be as “slippery” as possible to reduce friction. More viscous oil, like a 15W or 20W, is good for protecting the engine but is “thicker” and not optimized for fuel economy.

New oils are being produced with fuel economy in mind, though. For instance, Mobil 1 Advanced Fuel Economy oil, with a 0W-20 or 0W-30 rating, reduces drag and friction inside the engine while ensuring everything is protected. They say you’ll be looking at a 2 per cent improvement in fuel economy, which adds up over time in reduced fuel bills.

Oh, and consider a block heater. In winter, it reduces engine stress when starting in the cold. If your engine isn’t working as much to warm up, it means less fuel burned.

The PLX Kiwi

The Kiwi is sort of in a category by itself, because this plug-and-play device doesn’t change how your car drives, but how you drive.

Apparently some drivers can see improvements of up to 20 per cent, because the Kiwi keeps tabs on your driving efficiency, displayed as your “Kiwi Score.”

The score reflects four aspects: smoothness, drag, acceleration and deceleration. Results at the end of your trip show you how you can on an easy-to-read display so that anyone can improve your driving.

Because it’s plugged in to your vehicle’s diagnostics port, it also keeps track of how much fuel you use, plus how much you spend on x fuel and how much you’ve saved by improving your technique.

Vehicle scan tools

You don’t have to be a mechanic to check up on your car. Backyard mechanics have long known about scan gauges: electronic tools that often help you diagnose and cure problems without having to return to the dealership.

Large companies, like Superchips, decided to take lessons learned on-track and produce a range of tools that can be used to optimize your vehicle’s performance on-the-fly.

These plug-and-play units offer a range of customization, often also allowing you to even calibrate your speedometer for larger aftermarket wheels and tires.

They are extremely effective on trucks and SUVs, where any efficiency improvement can mean big bucks at the pump.

They also come pre-programmed to with software that will optimize your engine for performance, allowing you to be to be frugal on the way to work while having a little fun on the way home.

Performance chips

We said things would be getting intensive, right?

Well, moving beyond plug-and-play units, you can actually modify your existing engine computer unit with new software to improve mileage.

Very popular and effective with imports, diesels and turbo or supercharged cars, products like Upsolute’s chip tuning system mean seeing improvements of 50 hp are not unheard of.

With more horsepower, you are actually increasing engine efficiency, meaning you can be less aggressive with the throttle to return the same driving performance you’re used to.

Chips can be re-flashed in about an hour, but it’s essential to pick a reputable shop because it’s not the sort of modification you want to go wrong.

With Upsolute, the company quotes improvements of about 2 miles per U.S. gallon and an installation time of about an hour.

Tires

Since they’re the only part of the car that actually touches the ground, tires are a good place to start. But we don’t have to remind you to check your tire pressures, right? Under-inflated tires will cost you money every single second while on the road, and ensuring pressures are correct is basically free.

If you want to go more extreme, some major tire makers offer low-rolling resistance or environmentally-friendly tires. Pictured is the Bridgestone B381, an original-equipment tire, and you’ll notice its blocky tread pattern and rounded sidewalls — these help reduce its drag on the road surface.

For your car, talk with your dealer or a tire shop to find the best-performing green tire for your car, and consider filling them with nitrogen, too. Inflating tires with nitrogen gas often mean more consistent and stable pressures, so you’ll have to check your tires a little less often.

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