Petrol prices forcing parents to share school run

Nearly half of parents are thinking of sharing the school run in an attempt to cut down on the cost of running their cars, after petrol prices hit a fresh record.

By Harry Wallop, Consumer Affairs Editor 2:48PM GMT 11 Jan 2011

The average price of a litre of unleaded petrol climbed higher on Tuesday from 127.80p to 127.88p, edging ever closer to the equivalent of £6 a gallon (132p a litre).

The price has climbed steadily since the New Year, when first fuel duty was increased, and then a few days later the increased level of VAT came into force.

Consumers have been cutting back on driving – as they did during the fuel price spike of 2008. According to a poll by Halfords, the retailer, 44 per cent of parents say they are talking to friends about sharing the school run.

The survey also suggested that 78 per cent plan to drive less, with daily short trips to local shops the biggest casualty of the attempt to save on transport costs.

Figures from HM Revenue and Customs suggest that fuel consumption falls when the price of petrol increases. During December 4.28 billion litres of fuel – either unleaded petrol or diesel – was released for consumption, a fall of 4.48 billion in November. - The Telegraph

RON 97 price hike hits high-end users

The Star Online

November 3, 2010

PETALING JAYA: The five-sen hike of RON 97 petrol to RM2.15 per litre from yesterday has mostly affected a small group of luxury car owners and those who favour its performance capabilities compared to the more affordable RON 95 which is still sold at RM1.85 per litre.

Animation designer Joey Khor, 32, who drives a 3.5-litre Nissan Fairlady sports car, said he might have to sell his car if the petrol cost becomes too hard to bear.

“I am already spending RM150 for a full tank, which will last me around three to four days. That means RM300 in a week, and RM1,200 spent on petrol in a month,” he added.

Car mechanic Novie Ismail, 34, said he spends about RM400 a month on petrol for his three cars: Volvo 24 SE, Proton Satria and Charade Aura.

“I’ll just have to bear with the RON 97 price hike as I feel that RON 95 affects the performance of my cars. The engines sound rougher and generate less power,” he said.

Meanwhile, Petrol Dealers Association Malaysia president Datuk Hashim Othman said the price increase was a natural consequence of rising oil prices in the international market.

He estimated that about 75% to 80% of motorists were RON 95 users and would thus remain unaffected.

“Don’t be too upset by the controlled float (of RON 97), as the Government plays an important role in ensuring that the oil companies do not hike petrol prices drastically,” said Hashim, pointing out that RON 97 sells for around RM3.80 per litre in Thailand.

“The public should be aware that the Government does not impose any tax on the sale of RON 97 but does not subsidise it either,” he said.

The previous petrol price hike, which took effect on July 16, was part of the Government’s effort to save an estimated RM750 million a year.

Deputy Domestic Trade, Co-operatives and Consumerism Minister Datuk Rohani Abdul Karim told the Dewan Rakyat that the price increase reflected the global price increase of fuel and announcements would not be made in the future about price changes.

She added that a committee comprising officials from the Finance Ministry and her ministry would monitor and determine the price since RON 97 was subjected to a managed float.

30% surcharge likely for balik kampung bus tickets

PETALING JAYA: Those who plan to balik kampung by bus this Hari Raya may have to pay 30% more for their tickets.

Industry sources said the Government had agreed to impose a surcharge on stage and express bus fares from Sept 15 for a month.

Travellers from Kuala Lumpur to Johor Baru who were paying RM23.90 for a ticket each will now need to pay RM31.07 while those heading to Penang will have to pay RM34.84 instead of RM26.80.

Despite news of the increase, bus operators have yet to start selling tickets for the Hari Raya period as they are waiting for the Government to make an official announcement.

Pan Malaysian Bus Operators Association president Datuk Ashfar Ali said they would not sell tickets in advance until they receive official confirmation.

“Otherwise, we don’t know for sure how much the tickets would be sold for or whether we might be penalised for selling at a new price without getting the nod from the authorities,” he said.

Ashfar said they would continue to push for a 100% fare increase, something they had been demanding for since late last year.

“This (30% increase) is just an interim measure. We are led to believe that the figure will be adjusted accordingly,” he said.

He said there might not be a need for a 100% fare hike if the Government announces goodies for the bus industry in Budget 2009.

Among the items asked for by operators are lower taxes for chassis, air-conditioning systems, spare parts, tyres and batteries, as well as the setting up of a fund by the Government to train new bus drivers.

By TEH ENG HOCK - The Star 28 August 2008

Express, stage bus fares up 30% for Raya

KUALA LUMPUR: Express and stage bus operators have been allowed to impose a 30% fare surcharge during the Hari Raya period.
Entrepreneur and Cooperative Development Minister Datuk Noh Omar said the fare surcharge would come into effect between Sept 15 and Oct 15.

The government has allowed a 30% fare surcharge on express and stage bus tickets this Hari Raya.

He also hinted that bus fares would be raised after Hari Raya.
"If bus operators improve their services during the festive period, then we will consider giving them the fare hike they have been asking for since 2007," he said.
The last time bus fares were raised was in 2005.
Noh also said that fares for premier and executive buses would be liberalised, while the fare for economy class would continue to be controlled.

By TEH ENG HOCK - The Star -28 August 2008

30 tips on how to save fuel ...

1 Drive Smoothly
Aggressive driving can use as much as a third more fuel than safe driving. Avoid accelerating or braking too hard and try to keep your steering as smooth as possible.

2 Use Higher Gears
The higher the gear you drive in the lower your engine speed is, which can improve fuel efficiency. So change up a gear whenever you can, without labouring the engine.

3 Tune and Service Your Engine
A well tuned engine can improve fuel economy by up to 4%, so change your oil and follow your car manufacturer’s recommendation on servicing.

4 Keep Your Tyres at the Right Pressure
Correctly inflated tyres are safer and last longer. A tyre that is under inflated by just 1psi can reduce fuel efficiency by as much as 3%. An under or over inflated tyre is also more susceptible to failing.

5 Avoid Carrying Excess Weight
For every extra 100 lbs (45 kg) you carry your fuel efficiency can drop by 1-2%. So keep your boot or back seat clear of unnecessary items that just add weight to your vehicle.

6 Remove the Roof Rack
If you’re not using your roof rack, then remove it. They affect the aerodynamic efficiency of vehicles and create drag, reducing fuel economy by as much as 5%.

7 Use the Correct Oil
Always use the recommended grade of motor oil. Using the manufacturer’s recommended lubricant can improve fuel efficiency by 1-2%. Higher quality motor oils can help your engine operate more efficiently.

8 Fuel Matters
All fuels are not created equal. Fuel economy is maximised in the engine through a combination of good driving habits and using the right fuel…one that helps reduce friction and improves cleanliness in the engine, thereby improving fuel efficiency. The Taylors have chosen Shell fuel to power their Guinness World Records as a result of their own personal tests of several commercially-available fuels and their belief in Shell’s product quality.

9 Avoid Excess Idling
Idling gets you nowhere but still burns fuel. Turn the engine off when you’re in a queue, or waiting for someone, until you need it.


10 Plan Trips Carefully
Cutting down on the time spent in the car is the easiest way to conserve fuel. To reduce driving time, combine all your short trips and errands into a single journey.

For more tips please log on to : www.fuelacademy.com

Tips on Filling your Vehicles...

I don't know what you guys are paying for petrol... but here in Durban, we are also paying higher, up to 47.35 per litre. But my line of work is in petroleum for about 31 years now, so here are some tricks to get more of your money's worth for every litre.

Here at the Marian Hill Pipeline, where I work in Durban, we deliver about 4 million litres in a 24-hour period thru the pipeline.

One day is diesel; the next day is jet fuel, and petrol, LRP and Unleaded. We have 34-storage tanks here with a total capacity of 16,800,000 litres.

ONLY BUY OR FILL UP YOUR CAR OR BIKKIE IN THE EARLY MORNING WHEN THE GROUND TEMPERATURE IS STILL COLD. Remember that all service stations have their storage tanks buried below ground. The colder the ground, the denser the fuel, when it gets warmer petrol expands, so buying in the afternoon or in the evening.... your litre is not exactly a litre.

In the petroleum business, the specific gravity and the temperature of the petrol, diesel and jet fuel, ethanol and other petroleum products play an important role. A 1degree rise in temperature is a big deal for this business. But the service stations do not have temperature compensation at the pumps.

WHEN YOU'RE FILLING UP, DO NOT SQUEEZE THE TRIGGER OF THE NOZZLE TO A FAST MODE. If you look, you will see that the trigger has three (3) stages: low,
middle, and high. In slow mode, you should be pumping on low speed, thereby minimizing the vapours that are created, while you are pumping. All hoses at the pump have a vapour return. If you are pumping on the fast rate, some of the liquid that goes to your tank becomes vapour. Those vapours are being sucked up and back into the underground storage tank so you're getting less worth for your money.

ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT TIPS IS TO FILL UP WHEN YOUR TANK IS HALF FULL. The reason for this is, the more fuel you have in your tank, the less air occupying its empty space. Petrol evaporates faster than you can imagine. Petroleum storage tanks have an internal floating roof. This roof serves as zero clearance between the petrol and the atmosphere, so it minimizes the evaporation.

Unlike service stations, here where I work, every truck that we load is temperature compensated, so that every litre is actually the exact amount.

ANOTHER REMINDER, IF THERE IS A FUEL TRUCK PUMPING INTO THE STORAGE TANKS, WHEN YOU STOP TO BUY, DO NOT FILL UP - most likely the petrol/diesel is being stirred up as the fuel is being delivered, and you might pick up some of the dirt that normally settles on the bottom.

Hope, this will help you get the maximum value for your money.

Carpooling Made Easy

Have you ever noticed that every festive season in Kuala Lumpur, tens and thousands of people find it difficult to get transport to Balik Kampung?

The existing public transport system is just not sufficient to handle the demand.

But did you know of that during the same time approximately 200,000 passenger cars leave Kuala Lumpur either to the north or south and about 20% are Single Occupancy Vehicles, which means the car is empty except for the driver.

That means potentially there are 120,000 vacant seats going to the north and south of Peninsula Malaysia every holiday season (assuming one car can take 3 passengers).

Imagine if all those people who are struggling to find transport, so they can Balik Kampung to see their loved ones, had a way to access and share these unused seats.

Well the wait is over; Tune Travel provides a secure and easy way in which all Malaysians can create travel partnerships be it during festival Balik Kampung or carpooling to work everyday.

Think about it, a car with 2 people in it is twice as efficient, takes up much less road space, uses half the fuel and produces half the pollution as 2 cars with just one driver in each.

Already in Kuala Lumpur during peak hours, the Buses, the LRT, the KTM Commuter and the Roads are all full. So really the only remaining capacity is the empty seats in the Single Occupancy Vehicles that travel to the city everyday.

By creating travel partnerships such as carpooling, we all can save quite a lot of money especially with ever increasing petrol, toll and parking charges. (Check our ourwebsite www.tunetravel.com.my to see how much you can save).

Not only that, if more Malaysians carpool to work surely traffic congestion can be reduced and less time and fuel will be spent travelling to the office during peak hours.

And better yet the fewer cars on the road means less CO2 will be produced and that helps protect the environment as CO2 produced by vehicles is very damaging to the environment.

To illustrate, if you drive a 1.5 litre car 40km to and from work every day, you will produce approximately 2 tonnes of CO2 a year which needs approximately 800 tress to absorb and reconvert into O2 .

It is estimated that 1 tree produces enough O2 for 4 people to survive a year.

So fewer cars on the road, means less fuel used, less money spent, less time wasted, less traffic jams, less stress and more O2 for us to breath.

Imagine the difference we can make. To register please log on to our website at www.tunetravel.com.my

Oops ...This is Car in pool ....not Carpool..