A few people around me are talking about doing a “hypermile” with their cars. In a nutshell, hypermiling is a fuel economy maximizing behavior, or a set of tricks to gain more miles per gallon. For the most part, the recommendations are good advice. For me, I can’t do all the tricks because it depends on the road condition.
For example, hypermiling suggests I drive at a certain speed to be efficient, such as 60 MPH (or lower); but I can’t do this when I’m driving on the car pool lane where people typically drive at least 80 MPH on that single lane. Other examples, as a couple of readers commented earlier, include driving behind a truck for slipstream effect, and turning off air conditioning. Again, not for me because following close to a truck is dangerous, and no air conditioning causes more stress in Southern California’s heat waves.
The practice of hypermiling is certainly worth trying to save some gas. Also, it’s good for bragging rights. But I’m not crazy enough to try and be the King of Hypermiler. Safety is first!
Tags: cars, fuel economy, hybrid cars, safety
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There really is a club for everyone isn’t there?
I totally agree with you on the safety aspects, trying to stick to a specific speed can be dangerous depending on road conditions, slipstreaming is certainly very dangerous, and so is coasting, where the engine is disengaged at optimum speed and the vehicle allowed to slow to a minimal optimum speed and then engaged again.
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David Bradley’s last blog post..Evolution 2.0
The problem with going without AC is that I’d either open the windows to cool off, causing more drag and wasting even more fuel, or I’d speed to get home to get out of my sweatbox of a car. There are times when using the AC is actually more fuel efficient than the alternatives (at least according to MythBusters).
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@David:
On highways (non-car pool lane), I use cruise control a lot and stick to 60 MPH. I also coast a lot since it recharges the battery and save my brake pads. I never turn off my engine while in motion – that’s just scary.
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@haley:
I just wish my hybrid is a convertible. Then I won’t have to worry about it being a sweat box, or quibble about wind drag. Though I would think a convertible is worse for fuel efficiency.
@Rudy when you say you coast, you mean you put the engine into neutral and let the car roll along under its own momentum? That’s illegal in the UK I believe.
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I think the show Mythbusters proved that there’s no actual slipstream effect from tailgating trucks unless you get within a foot or two (which is insanely dangerous for even trained drivers).
Jason – GorillaSushi’s last blog post..Hairy Amputee Disco
@David:
By coasting, I mean letting go of the accelerator and let the momentum moves me forward. No brakes. I suppose with manual gears, it can be set to neutral. If that’s illegal, then it must be downshifted. But wait, why is putting the gears in neutral to coast considered illegal in UK? That seems odd.
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@Jason:
It’ll depend on the size of the truck too. The taller trucks will produce a wind turbulence further back, so a small car may fit without being a foot or two. But, even if you can, it’s still too close. Following a truck should be at least 5 cars apart, and that’s far beyond catching the slipstream.
You don’t have any real control over the vehicle if it’s in neutral, you cannot accelerate out of trouble, as it were. I presume there’s a much more arcane reason for it being in UK law…
David Bradley’s last blog post..Evolution 2.0
Hey David,
Correct me if I’m wrong, but UK puts a law on every little thing, right? It’s what Californians call “Nanny State” – just slap regulations on anything resembling common sense, just because people don’t have any.
I mostly just stick to the drifting… I didn’t know anyone had coined a term for a fuel saving group of people though… Interesting. Oh yeah, my AC has been broken for 2 yrs, so in over 100 degree weather, it stays warm lol. So I suppose gas is saved there 😀 Don’t know if it’s true, but my bud was saying if one were to drive to a mall (about 25 miles from here) using AC the whole way, he’d use more gas for AC than for the actual driving. I admit, I tried to fix my AC with a do-it-yourself kit, so I’m no fuel saving saint.
Yeah… A couple of the things those hypermilers do at least in Maryland, are illegal and ticket worthy… Tailgating, not following speed limit around turns, obstructing traffic by going TOO slow… 😀
They rarely ticket for “driving too slow”. Unless you’re going less than 10 MPH on a clear road.
The King of Hypermiler article said the guy drifts to corners, and sling shot around them without brakes. I think that took a lot of nerves. 🙂