Driving Around the World – Economy Class!

With fuel prices continuing to escalate, the quest to wring the most distance out of one tank of petrol is without doubt a foremost concern on all our minds. Who better to ask advice on this topic from than the most celebrated husband and wife team to have ever taken on the challenge of economy driving?

John and Helen Taylor are no ordiary couple. Between them, they have 34 fuel-economy records to their name. They have broken the fuel consumption figures of every car that they have sat in, and in 2004, Helen Taylor proved that even SUVs could be fuel efficient using Shell's specially formulated petrol, when she drove the 3 litre Lexus RX300 from Singapore to Penang and then into Kuala Lumpur, covering 1025.8kms on a single tank of petrol. This was part of Shell's fuel economy challenge which I remember vividly, because I had the honour of being the independent observer, and sat in the car the whole way.

Now, they are halfway through the greatest challenge that they have ever embarked on: an attempt to drive round the world, covering a total distance of 28,970km in a standard Volkswagen Golf FSI 1.6. All while filling the petrol tank a total of 40 times or less with Shell's newest fuel economy petrol. The two of them call it “the greatest adventure that we’ve ever had a chance to embark on”. John explains that the Golf FSI was chosen because it is a popular car in many parts of the world, and its simplicity, reliability and comfort lent itself well to this expedition.

When the Taylors pulled into Singapore on 13 February, they had already driven across most of the Asian continent, having started from London, then into 14 European countries, then India, Thailand and Malaysia. Currently the car used is showing an averaging fuel consumption figure of around 21.2 km/lt, which beats the official Volkswagen figures for the 1.6 Golf of 14.3 km/lt by an amazing margin. In simple terms, this means that the Taylors are capable of driving 1166 kilometres per tank!

Using Singapore as their launch pad to Australia, the Taylors will subsequently continue their journey to America. Described as the world’s biggest fuel efficiency record attempt to date, the challenge covers a great distance in a short time, across diverse terrain, and in extreme climatic conditions. This challenge is also providing Shell with a unique platform to test its newest Fuel Economy petrol formula, designed to help offer better engine efficiency by improving friction control and increasing engine cleanliness.

‘We’ve driven through the most incredible places we’ve ever seen,” exclaimed John when we caught up with the couple when they arrived in Singapore and pulled into Shell Jalan Ahmad Ibrahim, near the Second Link. A person with a boundless supply of energy, John described their trip through India as “living in an Indiana Jones movie.”

“We encountered all sorts of local traffic in the countryside, like cows and monkeys. We also did not do any advance reconnaissance for this expedition,” explained Helen, “which was part of the challenge. This is the first time that we’ve been to many of these places and everyday was an unpredictable adventure.”
Speaking at the media event held at Shell’s Jalan Ahmad Ibrahim station on 13 February, John said, “While we are acknowledged as the world’s most economical drivers, the Shell Fuel Economy World Record Challenge is the toughest economy record attempt we’ve undertaken. We’ve made fantastic progress thus far, and are confident that by implementing some simple driving tips for fuel efficiency and using Shell’s Fuel Economy formula, we will be successful in setting a strong record.”

“The challenge has been an exciting experience and we have had the opportunity to share our fuel efficiency strategies with people from all over the world. It’s great to be back in Singapore, and we hope to be able to inspire other motorists to achieve fuel-efficient driving.”

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The question on everyone’s lips is just how do they do it? John gives some simple "Fuelstretch tips:

- Avoid carrying excess weight. Any additional weight in the car will require the engine to work harder and use more fuel.

- Drive smoothly, with smooth starts and gentle stops. Avoid revving the engine hard.

- Plan your trip and start early! This will allow you to avoid traffic jams and last minute dashes, both which can cause a dramatic rise in fuel consumption.

- Ensure that your vehicle is regularly serviced and tyres inflated to the correct pressure. This ensures that your engine runs as smoothly as possible, and correctly inflated tyres reduce rolling resistance.

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To see daily statistics on mileage and fuel consumption along the Taylors’ journey and which part of the world they are currently in, you can visit www.fuelchallenge.com which provides the most up-to-date information, as well as daily blogs by the Taylors and crew, photographs, highlights and tips on fuel efficiency.

Credits: Lionel Kong