Why cars consume more fuel in the city than on the highway

Driving in the city will consume more fuel than driving on the highway. Illustration: Vu Tung

Idling is a huge waste of fuel.

When your car is running, the engine is running and it is using fuel.

The car engine is always running, even if you are stuck in traffic, stopped at red lights and do not move to give way to pedestrians. In other words, the car is still consuming gas while idling.

However, fuel consumption will depend on the type and size of the vehicle. The Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (USA) notes that a compact sedan with a 2.0-liter engine uses about 0.16 gallons (equivalent to 0.6 liters) of fuel per hour when idling.

On the other hand, a much larger 4.6-liter gasoline engine will use more fuel, at 0.39 gallons (equivalent to 1.5 liters) in the same amount of time.

Constant starting and stopping wastes a lot of fuel.

Cars are more fuel efficient when they maintain a constant speed, and this only occurs on the highway.

Meanwhile, the roads in the city are smaller, there are more cars, all kinds of vehicles moving together so you have to stop and restart the car more often, so it will consume more fuel.

Furthermore, you lose some energy to heat up your brakes whenever you stop, which is why driving in the city consumes more fuel than on the highway.