MINI ATTEMPTS ECO-DRIVING RECORD FROM TIP-TO-TOE OF NZ
- Aim is to use less than two tanks of fuel
- 30% improvement in fuel economy through Eco-driving
- “It’s what you drive, and how you drive, that matters”
A bright red diesel-powered MINI will attempt to drive the length of New Zealand using less than two tanks of fuel to demonstrate the importance of ‘eco-driving’ as a means of reducing New Zealand’s transport related emissions.
Mark Whittaker, founder of ecodriver, a company specialising in fuel economy training courses, together with seasoned motoring journalist Paul Owen, will attempt the record in a standard production MINI Cooper D.
The pair aims to cover the more than 2000km distance, using an average of three litres per 100 kilometres of fuel through a combination of the MINI’s fuel-saving technologies and their own ‘eco-driving’ techniques.
With a factory-quoted fuel economy figure of 3.9 litres per 100 kilometres, the MINI Cooper D shares the title of New Zealand’s most fuel efficient vehicle with the Toyota Prius hybrid.
Mark Whittaker said the point of the exercise was to demonstrate how technology and driving techniques can combine to achieve incredible fuel economy and low emissions.
“When it comes to emissions, what you drive is extremely important, but driving style can also make a difference of as much as 30 percent,” said Mr Whittaker.
“Whether you’re doing it to save money, or save the planet, we can all benefit from learning to drive more efficiently,” he said. The challenge is supported by the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA), which promotes fuel efficient travel.
“Our latest research shows that, in spite of the average car’s fuel bill being around $2200 a year, 61% of people aren’t driving to make the most of each tank when they drive – they’re wasting fuel when they simply don’t need to,” says EECA Chief Executive Mike Underhill.
“This challenge is another great way to show kiwis how some simple, everyday driving techniques – and choosing a fuel efficient car - can really reduce your fuel use and your environmental footprint.”
Timed to coincide with the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen, the Ecodriver MINI will set out from Cape Reinga on 7 December and is expected to reach Bluff five days later.
Mark Gilbert, Managing Director of BMW Group New Zealand, which also owns MINI, said he hopes the Ecodriving record attempt will highlight the improvements that can be made in passenger car emissions in New Zealand.
“In Europe, where vehicle emissions regulation is commonplace, the BMW Group is the industry leader in reducing emissions. In the absence of any similar legislation here, we want to show that a combination of the right car and the right driving style can make an enormous contribution to the daunting task of cutting New Zealand’s total emissions by 10 – 20 percent,” said Mr Gilbert.
The 1.6-litre turbocharged MINI Cooper D boasts a suite of technical innovations, known collectively as ‘MINImalism’ which help to reduce fuel consumption and emissions while retaining the MINI’s trade-mark ‘go-kart’ driving style.
Mr Whittaker said the MINI was the best-suited car available for the record attempt given its ability to achieve extremely low fuel consumption even at high speeds and on the open road.
“And for urban centres, the MINI features automatic Start/Stop technology so we never waste fuel in traffic or at intersections,” he said. The Ecodriver MINI fuel economy record attempt is supported by:
- FleetPartners - one of New Zealand’s leading vehicle fleet management and supply companies offering services from fleet assessment and supply to finance and total fleet management.
- Michelin Tyres - With over 100 years of tyre design experience, no wonder Michelin is a world leader in tyre technology with a comprehensive range of fuel and energy saving tyres.
- Castrol - A Worldwide leader in synthetic and conventional motor oil and lubricants and BMW’s international official lubricants supplier.
- International Telematics - A New Zealand owned company who have been rapidly expanding in the NZ and US markets have developed the ibright system which is a very sophisticated yet easy to use platform. It uses GPS information combined with an expansive feature set (e.g. engine management interface, fuel usage information, CO2 emissions, driver behaviour metrics all in real-time) The ibright system has proven to be very accurate and as a result International Telematics has become an approved online RUC agent for the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) using the ibright platform.
- EECA ENERGYWISE™ - The Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA) helps New Zealanders use energy more wisely at home, at work and on the road. They co-organise the biennial AA ENERGYWISE™ Rally to raise the profile of efficient vehicle choices and fuel-saving driving.
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For further information, please contact:
Piers Scott, Corporate Communications Manager Mobile 021 504 494 email piers.scott@bmw.co.nz
Mark Whittaker, founder ecodriver Mobile 021 279 4012 email mark@ecodriver.co.nz