1. Review driving habits
DOE/EPA guidance links aggressive acceleration, braking and excessive idling to wasted fuel. Plan ahead and drive smoothly within safe road conditions. Reduce avoidable parked idling where the vehicle’s operating requirements allow it.
The source’s numerical savings estimates are largely for light-duty vehicles. Do not apply those percentages directly to Kenyan matatus, buses or heavy trucks. Follow manufacturer requirements for equipment operation and shutdown.
2. Give maintenance a clear owner
Check tyre pressures against the vehicle manufacturer’s specification rather than the maximum shown on the tyre sidewall. Follow the recommended oil specification and have engine warning lights investigated. These are maintenance practices, not a guarantee of a particular fuel saving.
Actionable Security Controls Checklist:
- Assign a person to record and follow up tyre checks.
- Log reported faults and the action taken.
- Use the manufacturer’s service schedule for the vehicle and duty.
- Review unresolved defects before scheduling the next trip.
3. Run a measured operating trial
Our suggested approach is to choose a comparable route and record a baseline before changing one habit. Log distance, litres, load and any major traffic disruption during the trial. Review results with drivers rather than ranking unlike vehicles together.
Illustrative calculation: reducing consumption from 15 to 14 L/100 km over 2,000 km uses 20 fewer litres. At an assumed KSh 180 per litre, that is KSh 3,600. This is arithmetic to evaluate an observed change, not a forecast or a promised result.
Sources & further reading
Sources reviewed . Worked examples and suggested workflows are Phuel Card editorial guidance.