Cruise Control: Does it save fuel?

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Modern vehicles come loaded with several features, some of which never get the attention they deserve.

Cruise control is one such feature that some motorists have not figured out. Its main purpose is to reduce driver-fatigue, especially on long-distance drives. It does this by limiting the engagement of accelerator and brake pedals.

Cruise control is, however, meant for effective use on flat road conditions, devoid of traffic crawl-ups and uphill and downhill drives.

It is said to save to up to 15% of fuel on average because it maintains a continuous speed. Essentially, vehicles consume more fuel from engaging the pedals – accelerator and brake. 

Charles Semukuutu, an automotive expert, says the cruise control feature saves fuel, but the road the vehicle travels determines if the feature will work or not.

Speed variations, he notes, are what consume fuel. 

“It is maintaining engine speed. In controlling the acceleration, the driver’s foot on the pedal determines how much fuel the vehicle consumes. The engine speed will not rise above the set speed even if the wheels are faster than the engine speed. For example, if you are driving downhill in gear five, there are instances when the wheels are faster than the engine, so they up the engine speed. But if you are on cruise control and you set the engine speed to say 100 km/h, whether you are going uphill or downhill, it will maintain 100 km/h,” adds Semukuutu.

Umar Kasujja, a mechanic says cruise control largely maintains the vehicle’s revs in the set position, but the saving fuel argument is overstated.

“In Uganda, there is nowhere you can deploy cruise control because of potholes, speed bumps, bodaboda riders, and reckless drivers. It is not practical in Uganda,” argues Kasujja.

He also adds that the amount of fuel saved is not substantial enough to make cruise control a big deal.

How cruise control works

The cruise control buttons are normally on the steering wheel, though for some vehicles, are planted on the dashboard.

A driver accelerates to the desired speed and then presses the button to turn the ‘cruise control’ feature on. The accelerator is immediately released and the speed set is maintained until the driver either presses the accelerator or brake pedal.

“Cruise control starts at 40 km/h for Mitsubishi vehicles. There are buttons on the steering wheel. When you turn it on, you drive and get to the desired speed, or the road speed limit. For example, on the Kampala – Entebbe expressway, the speed limit is 100 km/h, so one can press the set button and release the pedal. It is cancelled either when the driver presses the brake pedal, accelerator pedal, or cruise control button,” explains Semukuutu.