Fuel Efficiency Tips from Chevy

I am still recovering from a very fun, completely exhausting blogging conference where I was able to connect with new companies to bring you tips & special offers to help lower your budget. One of those companies was Chevrolet. They sponsored several carpools to BlogHer, and I was lucky enough to tag along with some Chicago gals, through Team Inexpensively writer, Alicia, in a Chevy Traverse.

In addition to fun conversations with Lisa, Connie and Chris, my favorite part of the Chevy lounge are was the opportunity to actually see & touch a Volt. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to take it for a test drive, but I can tell you it is as beautiful as it is fuel efficient. The $41K price tag makes my heart sink, but the awesome Chevy team tells me it will be released with some affordable lease options.

Of course, you don’t have to buy a new car just to start saving money on gas. While you still won’t get the Volt’s 200mpg, these fuel tips from Chevrolet can save up to a tank of gas every other month:

• Plan your trips and driving routes to avoid traffic congestion.
• Observe speed limits—On a typical SUV, for every 10 mph increase above 40 mph, you lose up to 4 mpg fuel economy.
• Drive smoothly—using cruise control on the highway can help save as much as 2 percent for some drivers.
• Limit the use of accessories such as air conditioning and heated seats.
• Don’t carry more than you need—an extra 100 pounds can reduce fuel economy by up to 2 percent. Get rid of those golf clubs, bikes, bike racks, tool chests and bowling balls.
• Make sure your vehicle is properly maintained—keeping tires properly inflated, replacing a dirty air filter and keeping brakes well maintained, together can improve gas mileage by up to 10 percent.