As founder of EV advice site Electrifying.com I've driven hundreds of thousands of miles in electric cars - but even more in petrol and diesel ones over the years. All those miles have taught me some tricks that can help cut your costs at the charger - or save pounds at the pump.

1. The biggest saving - go electric

The single biggest change you can make to your running costs is switching to an electric car. If you can charge at home and access an off-peak tariff, an EV can cost just a few pence per mile to run, compared with roughly 12 to 18 pence per mile for a petrol car - around a third of the cost, and sometimes even less.

EVs have another useful trick, they use 'regenerative braking', so when you lift off the accelerator the car slows down putting energy back into the battery - effectively giving you a few "free miles" instead of wasting that energy as heat in the brakes.

2. Try a bit of carpool karaoke

Even if you are not ready to go electric, one of the easiest ways to reduce your fuel bill is simply using your car a little less. Sharing the school run, commute or supermarket trip with neighbours or colleagues means fewer journeys and less fuel used. It is common in countries like the US and Australia, where some roads even have dedicated lanes and parking spaces for car sharers. Think of it as a family sing-a-long with an added financial benefit.

3. Lighten the load

Many of us treat our cars like mobile storage units - I know I do.

Sports bags, scooters, dog towels, wellies, not to mention those bags of old clothes that have supposedly been on their way to the charity shop for months. It's all adds weight - and weight is the enemy of efficiency.

The heavier your car is, the harder the engine or battery - has to work and the more fuel it burns. A quick clean out could genuinely improve your fuel economy.

4. Drive like you're taking your test again

Many of us passed our driving test years ago and promptly forgot what we learned. But those basics can save you money: looking further ahead on the road, accelerating gently and braking smoothly all reduce fuel use.

Dropping your motorway speed from 70mph to 65mph will improve fuel economy on longer journeys, whether your car runs on petrol or electrons. There's even a name for this style of driving - hypermiling. Some drivers treat it like a sport, trying to beat their own efficiency records - so why not join the hypermiling club yourself?

5. Check your tyre pressures

This is one of the simplest things drivers forget. Under-inflated tyres increase rolling resistance, which means your car needs more energy to keep moving. Keeping your tyres at the recommended pressures is important for safety but it also helps your car run more efficiently.

6. If you drive a plug-in hybrid, plug it in!

Plug-in hybrids only deliver their promised savings if you actually charge them. Electricity is cheaper than petrol, so keeping the battery topped up means the car can do more of its driving using electric power rather than burning fuel. Using EV mode in town, where electric driving is most efficient, and saving the petrol engine for longer motorway journeys will maximise the efficiency you see from both powertrains.