Fuel Price in South Africa: 5 Ways On How To Save With A Fuel System
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It looks like South African motorists are finally about to breathe a sigh of relief with these updated fuel prices for November. In a world where fuel costs can often feel like a rollercoaster ride, the latest adjustments bring a glimmer of hope to our wallets.
Learn how fuel systems work with fleet management software
Understand the advantages of investing in a fuel management system
Know why Cartrack’s fuel and fleet management system is perfect for you
Latest insights on South Africa's fuel price hikes
Ah, the ever-persistent topic of fuel prices in South Africa. The latest update to fuel prices has motorists finally smiling from ear to ear. Well, for petrol users at least.
As of November 1st, 2023, The Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE) announced the official petrol and diesel prices, which saw a lowered price cut for both natural resources by R1.78 per litre and diesel decreasing by either 82 or 85 cents.
This means citizens will now pay:
R22.44 for 93 unleaded petrol
R23.90 for 95 unleaded petrol
Diesel is unfortunately not showing a big change following their R5.40 price hike in the past three months, resulting in the total wholesale price for 500 ppm to be:
R23.44 at the coast
R24.16 inland
Fuel-saving tips to stretch your fuel a few extra miles
Before you take this information in stride and forget about making your fuel last, let’s remember how fuel prices often fluctuate rapidly in South Africa. While we can’t control the price of fuel, we can control how long it stays in our tank.
Adopt smooth and steady driving: Eliminate harsh acceleration and sudden braking, this can drain your fuel tank. Instead, practise smooth, gradual acceleration and maintain a consistent speed.
Prioritise proper vehicle maintenance: Regularly maintain your vehicles to ensure optimal fuel efficiency. This includes keeping your engine properly tuned, maintaining tyre pressure at recommended levels, and replacing air filters and spark plugs as advised.
Optimise vehicle load: Minimise unnecessary weight by removing any items that aren't essential for your journeys. Every kg counts when it comes to fuel efficiency, so declutter your vehicle for maximum fuel savings.
Plan efficient routes: Utilise navigation apps or devices that provide real-time traffic updates to plan routes that avoid congestion and heavy traffic. Additionally, group multiple errands or trips together to minimise the distance travelled for healthy fuel usage.
Embrace fuel-saving technologies: Invest in fuel systems and fleet management software like Cartrack, which comes equipped with GPS and telematics systems. These systems capture real-time data on vehicle usage, refuelling patterns, overall vehicle diagnostics and more.
Whether you're a regular commuter or managing a fleet, these insights are bound to make a difference in your budget. Read on to finally get the information on how fuel systems can save you on fuel costs.
5 effective ways of how a fuel system can save you money
With fuel prices constantly fluctuating, it's more important than ever for motorists to find ways to save money on fuel. One effective way to do this is to use a fuel system.
Here are the top benefits fuel and fleet systems can provide drivers to ensure long-lasting fuel:
Fuel management systems go beyond simply monitoring fuel usage; they actively guide drivers towards more fuel-efficient practices. This data-driven approach helps drivers make informed decisions, such as adopting smoother acceleration and deceleration techniques, anticipating traffic conditions to avoid sudden braking, and maintaining a consistent cruising speed.
This is achieved through:
- Trip optimisation: Fuel management systems can analyse route data to identify the most fuel-efficient paths, minimising unnecessary detours and reducing fuel consumption.
- Route planning: By factoring in factors such as traffic congestion and road conditions, fuel management systems can suggest routes that maximise fuel efficiency and minimise travel time.
- Driver coaching: Real-time feedback on driving behaviour, such as excessive idling, harsh acceleration, and hard braking, can help drivers adopt more eco-conscious driving habits, leading to improved fuel economy.
Optimised vehicle maintenance
Regular and proactive maintenance of vehicles plays a crucial role in maintaining fuel efficiency and preventing unnecessary fuel consumption. Fuel management systems facilitate effective maintenance scheduling and tracking, ensuring that vehicles are operating at their peak fuel-saving performance.
- Scheduling maintenance tasks: Automated maintenance reminders ensure that vehicles receive timely servicing, preventing issues that could lead to increased fuel consumption.
- Tracking maintenance history: Comprehensive maintenance records help identify recurring issues or patterns that may require further investigation to address underlying causes of fuel inefficiency.
- Predictive maintenance: Advanced fuel management systems can analyse vehicle data to predict potential maintenance needs before they arise, allowing for proactive servicing and preventing costly breakdowns that could impact fuel efficiency.
Prevention of fuel theft
Fuel theft can have a significant impact on fuel costs, especially for businesses with large fleets. Fuel and fleet management systems can provide information that assists in reducing incidents of fuel theft within your fleet by employing various security measures, such as:
- GPS tracking: GPS tracking provides real-time vehicle location data, enabling fleet managers to monitor vehicle movements and identify any unauthorised activity.
- Fuel level monitoring: Continuous monitoring of fuel levels can detect any discrepancies that may indicate unauthorised fuel withdrawals.
Use Cartrack’s MiFleet for cost savings
MiFleet is a web-based tool that provides fleet managers with detailed information about their fleet's running costs, including fuel. MiFleet automatically reviews all fuel transactions and matches them with a vehicle's telemetry data. This allows fleet managers to identify areas of possible fuel theft and take steps to prevent it.
To help fleet managers save on fuel costs, MiFleet employs a three-step process:
- Import fuel card transactions: Fleet managers simply import their fuel card transactions into Cartrack’s MiFleet system. This provides MiFleet with the necessary data to analyse fuel usage patterns.
- AI-powered risk identification: MiFleet's AI algorithms analyse imported fuel card transactions and identify potential fuel risks, such as unauthorised usage, excessive consumption, or anomalies in transaction patterns.
- Actionable insights and recommendations: Fleet managers are presented with detailed insights into the identified fuel risks. This information empowers them to investigate these risks, implement appropriate solutions, and ultimately save money on fuel costs.
Advantages of investing in a fuel management system
These advantages encompass cost savings, enhanced efficiency, improved safety, and reduced environmental impact.
Optimise fuel economy and reduce costs
Fuel management systems effectively address the challenge of fuel consumption, a significant expense for businesses managing fleets. By monitoring real-time vehicle performance and driving patterns, these systems identify areas for improvement and enable fleet managers to promote eco-driving habits. This includes eliminating unnecessary idling, reducing harsh braking events, and optimising routes.
Safeguard fuel and prevent fuel theft
Fuel management systems act as a vigilant guardian against fuel theft, a prevalent issue that can severely impact a fleet's bottom line. By implementing advanced security measures, such as real-time transaction monitoring and fuel card fraud detection, these systems deter unauthorised fuel consumption and protect valuable assets.
Enhance vehicle maintenance and extend lifespan
Fuel management systems extend beyond fuel consumption monitoring; they provide valuable insights into vehicle health and maintenance needs. By tracking fuel usage patterns and identifying anomalies, these systems enable proactive maintenance scheduling, preventing costly breakdowns, and extending vehicle longevity.
Boost fleet efficiency and productivity
Fuel management systems streamline fleet operations and enhance productivity by automating tasks such as fuel card transactions, expense tracking, and route optimisation. This frees up fleet managers to focus on strategic initiatives, improve overall efficiency, and maximise resource utilisation.
The right fuel management systems for your business — Cartrack
Ready to start saving fuel with Cartrack?
Cartrack's fleet and fuel management system encompasses a suite of advanced features and capabilities that align with the five key strategies discussed in this blog:
Fuel-friendly driving habits through driver reports
