While jetting overseas may be back on the cards, the road trip renaissance is still in full swing with many people looking for more sustainable ways to travel. And with a bit of planning – plus some insider nous – there are plenty of ways to help reduce your carbon footprint on the scenic route.

Driving choices

First up, of course, is the car you choose to drive – and an electric vehicle is the benchmark for eco-conscious road-trippers. Liz Dobson, motoring writer and co-founder of New Zealand’s premier AutoMuse site, lives in Auckland, where there are plenty of free charging stations available.

“New Zealand is the miniature Norway when it comes to electric vehicles, with 80 per cent of energy renewable via hydroelectric power,” she says.

Test driving the all-electric EQC from Mercedes-EQ, Liz found that her average range for everyday use – taking factors such as air conditioning, stereo and comfort driving mode into account – is around 400 km, although it does offer a range of between 445 km and 471 km in ideal conditions.

“Using the steering wheel paddles, you can activate D- (semi-regenerative) or D-- (intensive) modes,” she says. “They work superbly. For instance, with 30 km of range left, a message came up saying I needed to charge the vehicle, but as I was 10 km away from home, I fought range anxiety by going into D- on the motorway. This negated the battery use; so for every kilometre I drove, the semi-regenerative mode added a kilometre [to the range]. Sweet as – as we say here!”

Eco-friendly driving tips

For drivers vehicles, Liz has some sound advice when planning a New Zealand ‘roadie’, though it’s just as pertinent for those hitting the road in Australia (despite its ‘tyranny of distance’):

• Don’t overpack your car. The more luggage, the more petrol you’re going to use.
• Consider the times you plan to leave or arrive in a city centre, especially Auckland. Like any big city, we have congestion. If you’re heading north, leaving in the morning; and if you’re going south, wait until after 10am.
• Once you’re on the road, use your vehicle’s advanced cruise control if possible. It will not only keep you at the right speed but will also run at the optimum for fuel efficiency.

Look out for these low-impact lodgings:

By Sally Feldman