Become an eco driver and win great prizes!
If you want to reduce your carbon emissions, become a super-smart eco driver and be in with a chance of winning some amazing prizes, why not register to attend a Ford Focus ECOnetic Smart Driving Challenge event this summer? Not only will you learn some important smart driving techniques, but also you could win the loan of a new Ford Focus ECOnetic and £1,000-worth of energy efficient home appliances.
At the six nationwide events, all of which are in association with the Energy Saving Trust you can learn how to become a greener driver by taking a three-part test. First of all, you’ll do a circuit in a new Ford Focus ECOnetic with an instructor to demonstrate your current driving skills, and your energy consumption will be measured. Then you’ll do another circuit, where the instructor will teach you special driving techniques to help save money and cut your carbon emissions. The fuel and energy consumption will be compared to your original driving circuit, and the driver with the best improvement on the day will win the loan of a new Ford Focus ECOnetic for one month and £1,000-worth of energy efficient home appliances approved by the Energy Saving Trust. The overall nationwide winner will win a £10,000 eco home makeover.
But what exactly are eco driving techniques? Easing your speed to 50mph saves 15% fuel compared to driving at 70mph. Changing up through your gears at low revs (between 2000 and 2500 rpm) really makes a difference to fuel consumption because there’s less internal friction in the engine. If you avoid unnecessary accelerating and braking by anticipating what’s on the road ahead, not only will you experience a smoother ride but you’ll also save on fuel. And when slowing down for a red light, or driving downhill with your foot off the gas and engine in gear, the ECOnetic reduces fuel flow to the engine to virtually nothing, which is much more economical than cruising in neutral gear. Easing up on your use of air conditioning will save energy, as well as removing unnecessary cargo from the car to reduce its weight. Make your journey more aerodynamic by closing windows and removing roof racks, and turn your car engine off whenever it’s safe to do so. Using these easy techniques will not only save you fuel and be better for the planet, but they will also save you money. And did you know that the Ford Focus ECOnetic emits the lowest amount of CO2 in its class: just 115g/km.
Ford Focus ECOnetic Smart Driving challenges are taking place at the following locations:
- 1. Blue Reef Aquarium, Tynemouth, 19 July
- 2. Knowsley Safari Park, Merseyside, 9 August
- 3. West Midlands Safari Park, Worcestershire, 16 August
- 4. British International Motor Show*, ExCel, London,
23 July - 3 August
To apply for your free tickets call 0845 600 6500 (lines are open Monday-Saturday, 08:00-18:00).
* The event structure and prizes at the British International Motor Show may differ
