Government pumps up campaign to end fuel waste

The Swiss government is pressuring motorists to pump up their tires – or, in some cases, to let a little air out.

A national campaign launched on Wednesday aims to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by encouraging vehicle owners to pay closer attention to their wheels.

What’s the connection? The federal energy department says that ensuring tires are inflated to an “optimal pressure” can reduce fuel consumption and CO2 emissions.

In this small way, drivers can do their part to reduce the emissions that contribute to global warming, the department says.

Having the right tire pressure “not only reduces costs at the pump, but it equally increase the lifespan of the tires and security of driving,” the department said in a statement to announce the campaign.

As part of the SwissEnergy programme, the government is supporting a free tire check programme offered by more than 160 Coop Pronto service stations across the country.

The objective of the programme is to increase awareness of the waste of energy resulting from improperly inflated tires, as well as the dangers faced by motorists.

According to the results of similar program undertaken in 2008-09, 47.7 percent of vehicles checked had tires that were not at the pressure suggested by manufacturers.

Touring Club Suisse, in fact, suggests that the optimal pressure is higher than manufacturer’s recommendations, usually found on the inside of vehicle doors.

Taking this into account, the survey from 2008-09 showed that the tires of more than 91.5 percent of vehicles checked were not pumped up sufficiently to gain maximum benefit.

The energy department estimates that if Swiss motorists routinely ensured their tires were properly inflated, the country could save up to 132 million litres of fuel annually.

The reason poorly pumped up tires waste energy is a simple matter of physics, the government says.

Tires improperly inflated displace more surface area on the road and provide more resistance, adding to the need for extra fuel.

They are also more likely to get a flat. The government said that 85 percent of punctures result from lack of adequate pressure.

The energy department said tires lose around 0.1 bar of air pressure per month. Ideally, they should be checked at least every two months.

Motorists can consult the www.eco-drive.ch site to find out more about when the tire checks are offered at the Coop Pronto outlets.