The sale of hybrid cars is a growing trend. One million have been delivered by Toyota in the last ten months, while eight million in total have been sold since 1997, when the Japanese manufacturer launched the first Prius model on the market. In particular, between 2000 and 31 July 2015, as many as 75,000 were registered in Italy. These figures also mean, according to Toyota's calculations, a saving of fifty-eight million tonnes of CO2 — the amount that would have been released into the air by an equivalent number of conventional petrol vehicles. But buying a hybrid car is not enough to pollute less and save on fuel. You also need to know the driving practices (which differ from those of a normal car) in order to achieve maximum performance and minimum consumption.

It is for this reason that Gai (Gruppo acquisto ibrido) came up with the idea of offering courses in which to learn the best techniques for driving a hybrid car: "After a pilot initiative in Varese, where we consolidated the course format," explains Luca Dal Sillaro, one of Gai's founders, "we decided to offer a number of dates across Italy to reach as many people as possible, given the many requests we received." The course takes place over a single day and includes a theoretical section and a practical section: classroom hours alternate with time behind the wheel — specifically two drives of 15 minutes each (in Toyota hybrid cars), the first on an urban circuit, the second on a hilly route. The instructors are users of the Hybrid Synergy Forum ("a kind of Wikipedia of the hybrid world, with genuine enthusiasts who are almost more expert than the engineers themselves") and the winners of Gai Pride, a motoring competition, also organised by the buying group, in which the winner is whoever uses the least fuel.

But what exactly can you learn on the course? "For example, the Pulse & Glide technique, which consists, when in urban traffic, of accelerating to the desired speed using the petrol engine and then continuing in electric mode while maintaining a steady pace. This means you don't use up all the electric charge straight away from the start, and therefore don't have to fall back on the petrol engine for the rest of the journey. Or again, you learn to put the Sweet Point into practice: if you are covering a long stretch on an out-of-town route, it is better to use both motors — the petrol one at minimum revs and at a steady pace, and the electric one to manage variations. In this way you achieve an optimal average fuel consumption from the car."

Gai has been in existence since November 2013 and currently has around 400 members, with an equivalent number of cars purchased (at lower prices thanks to the possibility of buying them as a group), but anyone can take part in the courses: "Anyone who tries a hybrid car never goes back," Luca continues. "While it is true that at first a car of this type may cost more than a conventional one, it is equally certain that, over time, you save on fuel and maintenance. Not to mention the driving comfort that comes from the absence of noise and vibrations, and the convenience of having an automatic gearbox — something many Italians are still sceptical about, but which is very widespread abroad."

For those interested in the courses, the next date is 20 September in Fiuggi Terme (though that date is already sold out), followed by 4 October in Salice Terme and 8 November in Castel San Pietro Terme. The participation fee is 70 euros, with a money-back guarantee. "We promise that during the drives participants will experience an average consumption of 4 litres per 100 km on the flat circuit and 5 litres per 100 km on the hilly one. If this is not the case, the money paid at the time of registration will be refunded." The cost of the course also includes lunch, which is strictly vegetarian.

Info: http://www.gruppoacquistoibrido.it/corso-guida-ibrida/