Chevy Volt, Fuel Efficiency Expert on “Today”

May 26, 2011 9:15 am ET

According to AAA, nearly 35 million Americans will take to the road this Memorial Day weekend to drive more than 50 miles.  As road trips abound on the Northeast’s back roads, blue highways and interstates, one issue on the minds of many is saving money at the gas pump.

Optimizing every last drop of fuel is a good way to save money, and there are many proven methods to increasing the fuel efficiency of your vehicle. Even if you don’t have the Chevy Cruze that gets 36 miles/gallon, or the Chevy Volt,  there are simple measures you can take, according to Chevrolet Fuel Efficiency Expert Roger Clark and journalist Kevin Tibbles.

Roger and the Chevy Volt were featured on “The Today Show” on May 25. Take a look!

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To recap:

1. Skip the fast food drive-through!  For every 15 minutes spent idling, you waste a quarter gallon of gas.  If you need to grab something on the run, park the car and walk in the restaurant to save gas (and save money!)
2. Mind the speed limit.  Driving at or below the speed limit will produce great fuel efficiency.
3. Avoid traffic if possible.  Pressing the gas and the brakes repeatedly not only makes your passengers feel ill, but it wastes gas (and you’re likely trying to avoid both).
4. Only pack what you need.  Filling your trunk up to the brim requires more fuel to get from point A to point B.  For 100 pounds of excess weight, fuel efficiency is reduced by 2 percent.
5. Remove any objects from the outside of the car that may increase wind resistance, thus expending more fuel.

Do you have any tried-and-true methods of saving money at the pump?  We’d love to hear from you!