The present exorbitant price of gasoline has divided Americans into two categories. The first comprises those who moan about it; and cut back on groceries and even delay paying insurance premiums, in order to fill up the tank. The second category consists of those who have decided to do something about it. They are responsible for a new word having entered the American lexicon - hypermiling.
Simply put, hypermiling has the potential to increase gas mileage, even in gas-guzzling SUVs. And it does not involve high technology; simply the application of simple laws of physics that have been around since the beginning of time.
The first law of physics is that every action provokes an equal and opposite reaction. The invisible air that surrounds us is actually a physical entity that exerts a respectable 15 pounds per square inch pressure in every direction. When you drive your car through it, you are, in fact, pushing against it; and it pushes back, slowing you down. If you want to maintain a good speed, therefore, you have to step on the gas and, consequently, use up more of it. It's as basic as that. Of course, modern car bodies are aeronautically designed; and help to reduce the drag to a considerable extent by allowing the air to flow smoothly over the top of the car. Those sinuous curves aren't just for sex appeal you know.
Even though aerodynamic car bodies help, you are still pushing a lot of atmosphere. So what do the smart hypermilers do? They get into a straight line behind a few other cars; and let those suckers do most of the work. By the time, the residual atmospheric pressure gets to your vehicle, you are almost coasting. Another tip: it does not make much sense to acquire a seriously curvy car and then stick a cargo rack on top. It kind of defeats the purpose, don't you think. Keep the luggage in the trunk. You'll save money.
Let us now turn to driving etiquette. Having it not only makes you less obnoxious on the road, it actually saves you money. Aggressive drivers who tailgate the car in front of them find themselves frequently applying the brakes. This is probably the least productive method of expending energy - and using up unnecessary fuel. Studies have shown that drivers apply their brakes between 10 and 25 percent more time than they need to. And what's wrong with that? Good old physics again. Braking turns motion into heat via the friction of the brakes, and uses excess energy. It may help you vent some of your agro, but can you really afford it?
If drivers leave a big enough buffer between them and the car in front - at least 2 seconds or more - there would be more time to coast before putting on the brakes. It also makes sense, when approaching a red light, to step off the gas and coast to a stop. Speaking of red lights, it does not take a genius to figure out that every time you stop at a red light, or get stuck in traffic, you are burning gas without actually moving. The trick is to try to minimize the time you spend fully stopped with your engine idling. The minute you see brake lights in front of you, take your foot off of the accelerator pedal, or hit the cancel button on your cruise control.
Finally, cars are becoming increasingly sophisticated these days. Formerly, it was the air conditioning that used up a lot of gas energy. Now, there is GPS, temperature control, sensors and what have you. All very useful, no doubt, but don't forget there is no free lunch. They all add to the gas consumption. So resist the urge to show off and use them only when you really need to.
If all else fails, dump the Hummer and go buy a compact. It may make much less of a statement, but being sexy costs serious money these days.
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Comments: 24
I know why the price of gas is high, but as I'm retired it really it doesn't make much difference at all too me. Well yet anyway. Maybe then I'll go to the store fewer times, but so far not yet.
Donald is spot on, slowing down from 75 to 55 in those boxy cars will be more efficient. The problem is time is money. Gas prices have to get even higher to get people to slow down because while they might think gas is expensive they consider time even more so.
We all need to get used to that and move onto a much more efficient or effective means of transportation, or to be able to pay $10.00 agallon.
I also don't drive very often, and when I do go out, I combine trips into as few as possible. Good thing I enjoy my own company and this computer!
Are we willing to do that again?
Anyone who has riden bicycles competitively can tell you that you have to be very close to enjoy the drafting effect. The next time you see a pack of bikers, look how close they are. Same with geese in flight.
Look at the NASCAR drivers - they follow within inches of each other at 180MPH.
Now slowing down and smoothing out your stops and starts. ---- there are some a good ideas.
Still, good article, thanks Firoze.
Imagine if cars were controlled by computer and we would all glide to our destinations coordinated perfectly in traffic and hardly ever needing to stop? We could cut our gas consumption way down. because most of what we use is wasted.
Thus whether you drive a Prius or a regular car several things should be institutively obvious to the gas conservative driver. For every deceleration there is an equal but gas guzzling acceleration. (Even my Prius does not convert all the energy of deceleration to reusable energy.) Constant speed limited to reduce air resistance is the key to high gas mileage. Remember the worse your MPG is the more important small savings in MPG become.
A few months ago I used to be the last car coming up to a red light because I would try to coast as soon as I would realize I wouldn't make the light. A few nights ago I was driving home, coasting as much as I could as usual, and I realized for the first time that I wasn't the last car in the line of cars coming up to the next traffic light, this time all the other cars were behind me.
This was the first time I noticed that everyone else on the road is trying to coast too.
Things that just about every driver can do are easy and simple and actually very safe.
1- empty your trunk. Take out everything that is unecessary for that trip. Extra weight lowers your mileage.
2- as you mentioned use good ettiquette, this is mostly about being observant to all around you. Driving while text messaging or even holding a cell phone to your head for conversation is distracting. Mythbusters did a show where they were able to conclude it is more dangerous than driving while legally intoxicated. Not that I am condoning that!
3. Keep your feet off the pedals as much as possible. My kids are amazed that if there is no traffic to deal with or obstacles in the street that I can coast with no pedal application the last mile and a half to my house up the steep driveway and into the garage without breaking max or minimum speed limits. Besides we have all seen if it if not done it. Race ahead only to end up at the long red light. I always giggle when I see someone zooming by over the speed limit and I pull up next to them just as the light changes.
I can not - for medical/physical reasons push my car out of the driveway and jump into the driver's seat as it starts rolling down with the engine never on. Nor am I comfortable with the "turn of death" described in the aforementioned article. Which consits of exiting the highway at 50 mph not hitting the brakes on a loop around exit and using that force to coast to the highest point in a mall parking lot with a potential pull through parking space in hopes of repeating the push and go as at home in leaving the parking lot. It has worked for him where as the truck, non-hybrid, loaded with equipment is averaging 80 mpg. But seriously slowing down, not riding the brakes or pushing the accelerator to the floor and paying attention can help with your vehicles gas mileage and just using those methods alone is safe. Of course there will be times where you have to slam on the brakes or put the gas pedal to the floor in order to avoid an accident but these seem to occur much less often when you use these methods than those who buy into the Zoom Zoom theory of driving.
My dad does the drafting behind semis a lot. I don't care to travel behind them and not be able to see.
As for tire pressures being dangerous check out the following article:http://www.officer.com/article/article.jsp?siteSection=19&id=27281
Hypermiling is actually defined as exceeding the EPA rating for the vehicle you are driving for anyone that really cares and doesn't just have an axe to grind with people who are trying to make a positive difference.
The two biggest factors of hypermiling/getting better fuel economy is:
1. Avoid speeding
2. Within the limits of safety, use the accelerator and brake as little as possible...you will be suprized how much the average motorist overuses these. It's all about momentium.
Some of the commenters are saying something that is just plain wrong: hypermiling=drafting. I've done and seen hypermiling articles and reporter like to make this rare practice seem like some thing hypermilers do.
HYPERMILERS FROWN ON DRAFTING.
Now, why is are hypermilers being called semi drafters? It could be after the first few articles on a new topic like this develops, others just cut-and-paste. Of more concern is speeders intentionally spreading misinformation, just like the "study" Hummers are greener than the Prius.
An excellent source on hypermiling is www.cleanmpg.com
For the last month I've been following some of the hypermiling suggestions on cleanmpg.com and have increased my mpg more than 15%. I'm not doing anything extreme, just trying to accelerate smoothly, coast to stop signs & traffic lights, and turning off my engine instead of idling at long lights.
For some of you in the conversation:
Hypermilers do not draft trucks or other larger vehicles and recommend against it. It's not a safe practice and hypermilers advocate safe driving techniques.
Now if I could just get those giant SUVs off my back bumper while I'm driving the speed limit ....
For those who took the time thanks for pointing out that hypermilling is not drafting. This is an old tale and as Larry T pointed out unless you are practically clamped to their bumper you dont benefit...and yes they do tend to drive above the recommended hypermiller speed, and yes it is not safe. Sorry I used to work with these drivers and I can tell you they have enough to look out for and take care of without having to worry about someone "drafting" off them.
I got gas yesterday for the first time in 12 days. I drive a 98 Lumina and I have increased my usual in city mpg by 20%. So even though I hate paying the $50.00 and up for a fill up I can smile about that.
Also I noted in the article I was reading that even though this guy was going about 50 (which was the minimum speed limit on that highway) he was doing what I think he called ridge running or riding. Anywho..he stays in the right hand lane and stays as close to the far right line as possible so if anyone wants to be what he called a "waster" they are easily able to pass him.
As for time being valuable I have found that at least with in city driving I am making it in the same time as I would if I was not coasting. Not having to sit and idle at a red light is time and gas. I usually get there with little or no wait for the light and I am right next to the "wasters". Now as for long trips on highways that may not be the case but my dad had been stubborn with quiet a temper when he was youonger. He put a little fuzzy ball head on his dash that had a ribbon that said I.C.K.Y. Impatients can kill you.
Im telling you this stuff really works and most of it is legal and encouraged. You will become more observant and a safer driver while doing what is best for your car and your wallet. I was a kid during the "gas crisis" in the 70's and remember my parents cringing at having to be in long lines on odd or even days and watching the prices climb up over $1.00. I got my license in 86 and I had already had it ingrained in my mind ICKY, dont carry extra weight that you dont need, dont not ride your brakes, or floor the accelerator, be alert of everything going on around you, and we are only giving you FIVE dollars a week for gas that is enough to get to school and back every week. And it was about seventy cents a gallon so it was more than enough!