How to save fuel if you can’t afford an EV
The boom in electric-vehicle (EV) sales in the Philippines is unlikely to go away anytime soon, especially with fuel prices almost doubling to eye-watering levels in the last week.
Social media has been filled with posts from elated EV owners over the substantial short-term savings that can be had by driving a battery EV, a plug-in-hybrid EV or even a hybrid EV – these range from over 20 kilometers per liter in stop-start traffic to absolutely zero fuel stops. All splendid, but what about people (like me) who can’t afford to buy a brand-new EV?
As of press time, I daily-drive a used 2002 Volvo S60 T5 that uses 97-octane unleaded fuel. Although it isn’t as horrendously expensive to fill up as a turbodiesel car, my Swedish sofa’s fuel consumption certainly can’t hold a candle to any type of EV.
So, if you’re stuck in the same rut as I am, then here are some ways that we can make the most of what we have.
Don’t drive
If there’s one thing that the COVID-19 pandemic taught us, it’s that there are many outings that you can forego.
Shopping, eating out, watching a movie or drinking at a bar – these are all things that you can do without (again), at least for the meantime. And if you have school or work arrangements that allow you to maximize working from home, then you should take these.
Other ways to keep your precious fuel untouched is to use non-motorized transport like a bicycle or even take public transportation. Even with the recent fare hikes, commuting is generally cheaper than using your own car (you also don’t have to deal with the stress of finding parking or negotiating road congestion).
And if you and your friends or colleagues go to the same places anyway, there’s always carpooling (preferably with someone who has an EV). The drudgery of Metro Manila gridlock lightens substantially when you are in a car with people you like.
Maintain it well
If you really must continue driving, then make sure that your steed is in tip-top shape.
My Volvo could only muster a horrid 4 kilometers per liter in city driving because of the previous owner’s poor maintenance. But after my parts supplier and mechanic did a full oil change and tune-up (shoutout to 36Garage for the help), it achieves at least 6 kilometers per liter because it became much more responsive and efficient.
Other innovations include using nano-ceramic tint – my friends at Zenki Auto Detailing installed a superlight-black film on my Volvo that allowed me to turn down my air-conditioner even in midday heat, thus helping me save even more fuel. And when it’s really cold outside, I lower the windows and turn off my air-con completely.
And then there are the usual tips like removing unnecessary items from your car and checking the tire pressure every two weeks so that your engine isn’t stressed by excess weight or rolling resistance.
Take it easy
And so, we go into driving technique and trip planning, which are the biggest factors in maximizing your fuel.
Even a battery EV will be costly to run if you drive it like a lunatic – the secret is to learn your car well, especially the smallest throttle input that you can do without straining your car. For instance, my turbocharged Volvo runs happily at around 2,000 rpm, giving me just enough boost to get going without burning all my fuel.
And as I write this, I have a 2026 Ford Everest Wildtrak 4×4 on test with a twin-turbocharged diesel engine. Despite its super-expensive fuel, I managed to get 15 kilometers per liter in a short urban trip by keeping it under 1,500 rpm, along with making sure to avoid major choke points and peak hours.
If you can afford to buy an EV, then you can certainly save a lot of money in these hard times. But you must also account for the acquisition cost, steep depreciation, EV charging-station availability (especially when PHEV owners overstay their welcome) and the monumental cost of a new battery pack that could completely wipe out all those savings years down the line.
However, if you can’t get an EV, then all hope isn’t lost. We just need to drive smarter until things settle down.
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