World's Most Fuel-Efficient Couple Shares Ways to Stretch Fuel Consumption and Save Money

HOUSTON, May 2, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- With the summer driving season fast approaching and many Americans contemplating hitting the road, Shell teamed up with John and Helen Taylor, known as the world's most fuel-efficient couple, during their latest record-breaking drive to demonstrate how motorists can stretch their fuel while on the road.  During their 21-day fuel-efficiency trip throughout the 48 contiguous U.S. states, the Taylors achieved an average of 69.985 U.S. miles per gallon in an unmodified hybrid gasoline vehicle using tips from the Shell Smarter Driving Program.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120502/DA98897)

The Taylors will celebrate this accomplishment and share their tips and experiences at the "Shell Smarter Mobility Day" in Houston on May 2 at 12:15 P.M. CDT at Houston City Hall. At that time, Shell will receive a Mayoral Proclamation from the City of Houston, presented by Laura Spanjian, Director of Sustainability, to Selda Gunsel, Vice President, Shell Global Commercial Technology.

"Helen and I have been testing fuel efficiency for the last 30 years so we know first-hand there are easy ways for everyone to travel while also using fuel more efficiently. The Shell Smarter Driving program helps folks stretch their fuel farther on the road. It certainly did for us as we drove through all 48 states," said John Taylor.

The Taylors showed that when drivers make smart decisions, they can improve mileage and savings at the pump with proper car maintenance, behaviors, and actions and products. For the Taylors, that meant keeping the car well maintained and the tires properly inflated, avoiding idling and using high-quality gasoline and lubricants.

The Taylors made their 9,032.7-mile trip using New Shell Nitrogen Enriched Gasolines exclusively from Shell stations along their route. Before and during their trip, the Taylors also stopped at a Jiffy Lube to inspect, fill and clean essential components of their car to keep it running smoothly, including putting Pennzoil Platinum® 0W20 under the hood, a full-synthetic motor oil for hybrid engines.

Shell has teamed up with the Taylors before to help push the boundaries of fuel efficiency and set records around the world. In August 2011, the Taylors completed their first Shell Smarter Driving road trip, a 21-day tour through the 48 contiguous U.S. states, averaging 64.42 U.S. miles per gallon in an unmodified non-hybrid gasoline vehicle, also using Shell Smarter Driving program tips and Shell Nitrogen Enriched Gasolines exclusively throughout the trip.

"At Shell, we're committed to developing Smarter Products that improve fuel economy and keep engines clean so they can operate at their full potential.  Working with the Taylors as part of the 2012 Shell Smarter Driving Challenge gives us the opportunity to show the positive impact of combining Shell's latest fuels and lubricants technology with Smarter Driving behaviors," Gunsel said.   

To learn more about the Taylors' record-breaking drive or to test your Smarter Driving IQ, visit www.shell.us/smarterdriving or go to www.facebook.com/shell.

To learn more about Smarter Mobility, go to www.shell.com/smartermobility.

NOTES TO EDITORS:

About MAP

Shell and the Taylors believe that everyone can make a difference and push the boundaries of fuel efficiency by following a simple "MAP" to Smarter Driving, which includes:

• Maintenance:  Performing smart vehicle maintenance before you drive. For example, keeping your engine well tuned and repairing any problems immediately. If your car has failed an emissions test or is noticeably out of tune, repairing the problem could improve your gasoline mileage by 4% on average. For their journey, the Taylors stopped twice at Jiffy Lube, which performs full preventive maintenance services each year for about 21 million customers, including hybrid drivers.
• Actions: Practicing smart behaviors or actions while you're behind the wheel. Speeding, rapid acceleration and braking can lower your gasoline mileage by 5 percent at lower speeds around town and by 33 percent at highway speeds.
• Products: Purchasing smart products and services at the right price without sacrificing quality. Lower-quality gasolines can leave harmful carbon deposits or "gunk," which can build up on intake valves and fuel injectors negatively impacting engine performance, vehicle responsiveness and reduction of fuel flow – all potentially leading to reduced fuel economy. During their most recent record-breaking trip, the Taylors exclusively used the New Shell Nitrogen Enriched Gasolines, which contain 20% more cleaning agents than before, helping protect engines' intake valves and fuel injectors from performance-robbing gunk. No other gasoline protects better. Also, using low-quality motor oil and neglecting to follow automaker recommendations for oil changes can lead to sludge forming in your engine. Under the hood of their hybrid, the Taylors used Pennzoil Platinum,® which keeps pistons up to 40% cleaner than the toughest industry standard.(1)

About John and Helen Taylor

The Taylors are passionate about fuel economy. They have two companies, Fuel Academy and Eco2driving where they run global education programs, to teach drivers how to reduce their fuel consumption, reduce CO2 emissions, save money and drive smarter and safer. Between them, Helen and John hold 90 world records of which 44 are for fuel economy

(1) Based on ILSAC GF-5 and Sequence IIIG piston deposit test using SAE 5W-30.

Cautionary Note

The companies in which Royal Dutch Shell plc directly and indirectly owns investments are separate entities. In this press release "Shell", "Shell group" and "Royal Dutch Shell" are sometimes used for convenience where references are made to Royal Dutch Shell plc and its subsidiaries in general.

Likewise, the words "we", "us" and "our" are also used to refer to subsidiaries in general or to those who work for them. These expressions are also used where no useful purpose is served by identifying the particular company or companies. ''Subsidiaries'', "Shell subsidiaries" and "Shell companies" as used in this press release refer to companies in which Royal Dutch Shell either directly or indirectly has control, by having either a majority of the voting rights or the right to exercise a controlling influence.

The companies in which Shell has significant influence but not control are referred to as "associated companies" or "associates" and companies in which Shell has joint control are referred to as "jointly controlled entities". In this press release, associates and jointly controlled entities are also referred to as "equity-accounted investments". The term "Shell interest" is used for convenience to indicate the direct and/or indirect (for example, through our 23 % shareholding in Woodside Petroleum Ltd.) ownership interest held by Shell in a venture, partnership or company, after exclusion of all third-party interest.

This press release contains forward-looking statements concerning the financial condition, results of operations and businesses of Royal Dutch Shell. All statements other than statements of historical fact are, or may be deemed to be, forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements of future expectations that are based on management's current expectations and assumptions and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results, performance or events to differ materially from those expressed or implied in these statements.

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There are a number of factors that could affect the future operations of Royal Dutch Shell and could cause those results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements included in this press release, including (without limitation): (a) price fluctuations in crude oil and natural gas; (b) changes in demand for Shell's products; (c) currency fluctuations; (d) drilling and production results; (e) reserves estimates; (f) loss of market share and industry competition; (g) environmental and physical risks;

(h) risks associated with the identification of suitable potential acquisition properties and targets, and successful negotiation and completion of such transactions; (i) the risk of doing business in developing countries and countries subject to international sanctions; (j) legislative, fiscal and regulatory developments including regulatory measures addressing climate change;

(k) economic and financial market conditions in various countries and regions; (l) political risks, including the risks of expropriation and renegotiation of the terms of contracts with governmental entities, delays or advancements in the approval of projects and delays in the reimbursement for shared costs; and (m) changes in trading conditions.

All forward-looking statements contained in this press release are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements contained or referred to in this section. Readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Additional factors that may affect future results are contained in Royal Dutch Shell's 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2011 (available at www.shell.com/investor and www.sec.gov - opens in new window ). These factors also should be considered by the reader. 

Each forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date of this press release, May 2, 2012. Neither Royal Dutch Shell nor any of its subsidiaries undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement as a result of new information, future events or other information. In light of these risks, results could differ materially from those stated, implied or inferred from the forward-looking statements contained in this press release.

We may have used certain terms, such as resources, in this press release that United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) strictly prohibits us from including in our filings with the SEC.  U.S. Investors are urged to consider closely the disclosure in our Form 20-F, File No 1-32575, available on the SEC website www.sec.gov - opens in new window. You can also obtain these forms from the SEC by calling 1-800-SEC-0330.

SOURCE Shell Oil Company

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