Cruise control or not?
Will cruise control
improve fuel economy?
The answer: it depends.
On level highways with light traffic, it is YES: cruise
control holds a vehicle to a steadier speed than most drivers can, and that’s
more efficient than continuous acceleration and deceleration.
However, in hilly terrain, cruise control 'tramps on it'
when it encounters a climb, trying to maintain a constant speed - and that
consumes a lot of fuel. So in hilly
areas, a driver with a skilled foot can easily get better mileage than cruise
control. (A skilled foot means allowing
the vehicle to slow down on the upgrades instead of tramping on the gas, and
then using the other side of the hill to pick up speed.)
One caveat: safety first!
Always ensure your driving style is compatible with road and traffic
conditions.
Thanks to
Stephanie McClellan in St. Anthony, NL for the question that led to this Green
Idea!
In the news:
Coral
reefs around Indonesia
seem to be dying faster than ever as ocean temperatures hover at 4 degrees C
above normal, say scientists.
Renewable
IS doable in Ontario,
says a new Pembina Institute report – pointing out that the growth of green
power is exceeding expectations.
Think local food – it’s
flavour, freshness and nutrition, but a whole
lot more too.