Minister of Natural Resources Amarjeet Sohi and Don Iveson, the mayor of Edmonton, waving the green flag to start the event.
This summer, for the fourth year running, Canadian Fuels was a proud sponsor of The Automobile Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC) EcoRun, which took place in Alberta for the first time.
The annual event – in which 19 AJAC journalists competed to win the green jersey awarded to the most efficient driver – began in Edmonton, and finished in Calgary, at the legendary Stampede grounds. It featured stops in Red Deer, Drumheller, Longview, Canmore and Banff.
EcoRun’s goal is to showcase the options available to the public when it comes to choosing greener vehicles. These can range in size and engine configuration and all are put to the test during the two day event. The vehicles included pure electrics, plug-in and conventional hybrids, hydrogen fuel cells, clean-diesel powertrains and highly-efficient gasoline options.
The 19 journalists were able to fuel efficiently drive the vehicles to a total of 0.89 L/100 km better than the official Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) combined fuel consumption rating. What’s even more impressive is that the average for all vehicles involved dipped below the 5.0 L/100 km mark for the first time with a mark of 4.7.
"The goal was to be lower than 5.0L/100 km and that was clearly accomplished," says David Miller, EcoRun chairman. "The advancements in all powertrains including the internal combustion engines are a testament to all the auto manufacturers involved with this event. Back in 2015, we were happy to produce an average of 6.52 L/100 km, and from these EcoRun results, we now know that consumers can reduce their own carbon footprint significantly."
Canadian Fuels and a greener future
As a partner in the event, we were honoured to be able to participate and get to co-pilot many of the eco-friendly vehicles on hand. By far, the question which we were asked the most was “why would Canadian Fuels sponsor an event like this?”
"Gasoline and diesel are the most widely used transportation fuels in Canada today, largely because they're readily available, competitively priced and efficient, and our members are committed to continuous improvements so that today's transportation fuels are cleaner tomorrow," explains Peter Boag, President and CEO, Canadian Fuels Association.
"This is why, as the association representing refining in Canada, we are proud to have been an EcoRun sponsor for the fourth consecutive year and to have the honour of presenting the coveted green jersey to the most fuel-efficient driver."
David Miller & Rob Hoffman, CFA, presenting the green jersey to the winner; Michel Crepault.
We’re all concerned about climate change and the need to reduce GHG emissions. But we also recognize the importance of transportation to the daily lives of Canadians. So while the transportation fuel mix is changing, the pace of change mustn’t disrupt Canadians access to a dependable supply of fuels for all their needs, whether work or leisure. That means conventional transportation fuels like gasoline and diesel will be needed for a long time to come.
Continuous innovation will drive further improvements in internal combustion engine fuel efficiency and reduce emissions, and individual Canadians can contribute to emissions reductions through their driving habits.
Fuel-efficient driving and you
Did you know that you can lower your vehicle’s fuel consumption and carbon dioxide emissions by as much as 25% by making small changes to the way you drive?
You can do so by using the same fuel-efficient strategies the AJAC drivers used to obtain such great fuel efficiency numbers:
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Accelerate gently
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Maintain a steady speed
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Anticipate traffic
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Avoid high speeds
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Coast to decelerate
For more information on these five tips and for other fuel saving tips that can save you hundreds of dollars in fuel each year, please consult National Resources Canada’s Fuel-Efficient Driving Techniques page.
