Honda Cars Philippines, Inc. recently partnered with its corporate fleet accounts to promote fuel-efficient driving. With the number of cars managed by these accounts, a simple tweak on driving habits will mean a significant difference in extending fuel mileage.

Honda invited 10 fleet accounts and embarked on the Honda Challenge Cup to demonstrate practical driving methods under real-world situations. The competition posed various challenges in both city and highway driving conditions using normal, day-to-day driving style and with the air-conditioning system on.

Since 1996, Honda has pioneered in fuel economy competitions, promoting care for the environment by saving fuel consumption and minimizing CO2 emission.

There are several techniques that can be applied in optimizing fuel mileage but the most essential of all trickles down to three main aspects: vehicle, fuel and driver.

In achieving greatest impact on fuel economy and clean air, Honda targets the mass-market models. Years of research led to the development of engines with highly efficient internal combustion system like the i-VTEC.

More than the outstanding fuel efficiency, Honda vehicles are also engineered to pass the stringent European Emission Standards. Aimed to regulate the amount of pollution that can be released into the atmosphere, these standards set the acceptable limits for exhaust emissions of new vehicles sold in Europe.

The European Emission Standard is also considered one of the strictest in the world. All five models in Honda's line-up have reached EURO 4 level.

Conformity with EURO 4 standards translates to approximately 55 percent reduction in carbon monoxide if compared with EURO 2 levels. Honda introduced models with EURO 4 levels in 2004.

Another significant factor in going for the extra mile is the use of high quality fuel. High quality fuel has special formulation that aid better combustion efficiency.

Lastly, the key to fuel efficient driving is the driver. One has to have proper driving skills and understanding of the vehicle.

If a corporation is maintaining a fleet of 100 cars and each vehicle user saves one liter of gasoline per day for 20 working days in a month, the company can save approximately P936,000 in fuel charges per year (computed at P39 per liter of gasoline).

More fuel saving tips and technologies that reduce harmful emissions are at www.hondaphil.com.