Newswise — Recent increases in gasoline prices have put a strain on budgets. "These higher prices are not a temporary blip; they are here to stay," says Dr. Krishan Kumar Bhatia of Rowan University, Glassboro, N.J., an assistant professor of mechanical engineering who studies alternative energy sources and powertrains specifically for automotive applications. According to Bhatia, there are many simple things consumers can do to help alleviate the high costs of fueling vehicles today:

"¢ Decrease driving: While most of us cannot easily change our commute distance to work, we do have control over other trips we make. Try combining trips to save gas. "There was an old saying in the auto industry that besides going to work, people use their cars only twice a week: church on Sunday and groceries on Monday," Bhatia says. "Today, we have gotten away from that completely. Most car owners make several dozen trips a week for things that could easily be combined into a single trip." By combining trips, the overall mileage driven generally is reduced. Furthermore, try making these trips at off-peak times when traffic is lightest. By avoiding rush hour, your vehicle's mileage will improve.

"¢ Drive conservatively: According to the Department of Energy's annual Fuel Economy Guide, aggressive driving (i.e. fast starts from stop lights, sudden braking, etc.) can reduce highway fuel economy by as much as 33 percent. Speeding also has a negative impact on fuel economy. Each 5 mph above 60 mph can reduce your fuel economy by 10 percent.

"¢ Maintain your vehicle: This includes simple things like keeping proper tire pressure and changing your spark plugs, air filter and oil. In addition, remove any unwanted weight from your car, as this also reduces fuel economy.

"¢ When it comes time, buy a more fuel-efficient car: When considering a new car, fuel economy needs to be top priority in today's environment. According to Bhatia, while most of us feel the pain of high gas prices on a daily basis, we generally don't realize the long-term financial strain that a low-mpg vehicle puts on us. "Over the lifetime of a vehicle, you will end up spending more for fuel than for the vehicle itself," he says. For example, if a vehicle gets 20 mpg and lasts for 200,000 miles, with gas at $3 per gallon, you are talking about $30,000 in fuel over the life of the car. However, Bhatia points out that a 35 mpg vehicle in the same scenario will require less than $17,200 over the vehicle's lifetime. "The nearly $13,000 in fuel savings over the life of a vehicle should be enough to make most people consider a small 35 mpg car rather than a 20 mpg SUV," he said. In addition to fuel savings, buying a smaller car instead of an SUV could save you roughly $10,000 in initial vehicle cost. If you absolutely need the space of an SUV, consider any one of the number of popular wagons and crossover vehicles available today. They offer a good compromise between space and fuel economy. For more information, as well as fuel economy data for all new cars, check out the Department of Energy's Annual Fuel Economy Guide, available free for download at http://www.fueleconomy.gov.

Bhatia received his B.M.E. from the University of Delaware and his M.S. and Ph.D. in mechanical engineering from the Pennsylvania State University. His graduate work focused on hydrogen fuel cells for transportation applications and hybrid electric vehicles.