Fuel spikes: Driving tips to keep the tank full for longer

Surging fuel prices and fears of supply shortages are hard problems to grapple with, affecting all walks of life.

While the average driver can do little to sway geopolitical decision-making, they can take control of what’s already in the tank – and make it go further.

Smoothly does it

Driving style is one of the biggest factors in fuel efficiency. The harder the acceleration, the more fuel burned. Likewise excessive speed, so moderate acceleration and avoiding heavy braking is important. But it is also important to reach maximum efficiency – achieved by driving in the highest gear possible – relatively quickly.

In short, on highways get up to cruising speed and then stay there. Anticipate what’s ahead to minimise unnecessary acceleration and braking – so if there’s a hill coming, add a little extra speed (legally) to increase momentum and reduce fuel burn. If it’s a long, flat drive, use cruise control.

In towns and cities, stop-starts can be impossible to avoid – and rush hour traffic usually demands some less than leisurely manoeuvring. (Which is where mild hybrid technology can help; a 48V battery gives a little more power and performance on acceleration while boosting fuel economy.)

There are ways to minimise fuel burn. Optimising your route is one – use things like latest Google Maps functionality to get from A-B in the most efficient way, while skirting the worst of the jams. Avoiding rush hour peaks is another – and if the conflict drags on, shifting work hours may be a consideration that becomes increasingly viable.

Whatever the environment, if your Volvo has an Eco mode, which can squeeze up to 5 per cent more out of every tank, now is a good time to activate it.

Reduce bulk, check tyres

Excess weight and drag hurt fuel efficiency. So emptying the boot and removing the roof rack can make a significant difference to fuel economy.

Checking tyre pressure is also worth it – correct pressure can improve fuel efficiency by a few per cent (US studies suggest that tyres that are 10 per cent underinflated result in 2 per cent increased fuel consumption).

Correct tyre pressure is also important for safety – as over or underinflated tyres affect stability and grip, and can impact stability systems, increasing the risk of accidents.

For most cars, the correct tyre pressure table is on the door pillar on the driver’s side. It’s important to check tyres when they’re cool as the pressure changes after a few kilometres of driving.

Get a service

Trust your mechanic: service intervals are there for a reason. Clean filters, fluids and components mean a more efficient engine – and also help maintain the car’s residual value.

Time to go electric?

While fuel scarcity has a knock-on effect across the entire economy, it’s less of a direct problem for electric vehicle drivers.

That has led to a surge in demand for electric vehicles in recent weeks both in Europe and in Australia.

Latest data from Carsales suggest searches on its platform for EVs has “skyrocketed”, almost tripling in March compared to February. It also finds most people that don’t drive an EV are now considering one.

Households with solar PV may find an electric vehicle increasingly attractive.

As of August 2025, there were just over 4 million domestic rooftop installations in Australia, according to the Clean Energy Council, and the average size of those installations is just under 10kW.

That kind of capacity should be sufficient to power both the average home and the average daily driving requirements from solar power much of the time, or at least make a decent contribution.

Or a plug-in hybrid

According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, the average Australian drives 36.4 kilometres a day.

That means a plug-in hybrid, or PHEV, should easily cover the average daily round trip in battery mode.

Volvo Cars’ latest PHEV vehicles are capable of travelling more than double that distance on battery power alone, effectively acting as an electric vehicle.

Because PHEVs have smaller batteries, they can be charged at home in the evening ready for the next day.

Which means petrol can be saved for longer journeys, when it’s really needed.

See Volvo Cars’ PHEV models here and fully electric line-up here.