Clipping coupons makes sense: who doesn't want to save a
little money? But when the hobby becomes an obsession it inconveniences and
annoys others. Ever waited in line behind an "extreme couponer"?
Hypermilers are committed to minimizing their consumption of gasoline. While some of their methods demand extreme dedication, others can, and indeed should, be adopted by all motorists. Here's a short list of ideas from Sheehy Nissan of Mechanicsville. For more visit What is Hypermiling?
Easily adopted methods
Minimize weight
Weight takes energy to move, so empty the trunk and glovebox
of everything unnecessary. Hypermilers will take out the car's handbook, spare
wheel, jack, and perhaps even the back seat.
Keep the vehicle well maintained
An engine in good condition wastes less energy, so stay on
top of oil changes and other maintenance. It’s also a good idea to keep tires
aligned and remove roof racks and crossbars when not needed to reduce drag.
Moderate maximum speeds
Aerodynamic drag rises in proportion to the square of speed,
so pushing a car through the air at 80 mph takes a lot more fuel than sticking
to 75. And dropping 5 mph will have a negligible effect on total journey time.
Reduce braking by planning ahead
Brakes convert energy into heat, so if the lights 200 yards
ahead turn red, lift off the gas immediately. True hypermilers will go so far
as using pedestrian crossing signals to anticipate light changes and slowing
down to suit.
Accelerate gently
Being first to the next red light is seriously wasteful, but
moving too slow risks making drivers behind you seriously frustrated. Leisurely
acceleration is the most efficient way to move off, but just be careful not to
be too leisurely.
Minimize idling
Shut off the engine during prolonged stops. Even doing this
for just a minute saves gas. (Some new vehicles have 'Auto start/stop' which
performs this function.)
Use cruise control on the highway
Speed tends to creep up on a long highway drive, and cruise
control prevents this, (which helps avoid tickets too!)
Gas-saving ideas not for the novice
Coasting
In a vehicle with a stick shift, slipping it into neutral or
holding down the clutch disengages the engine and reduces drag. It offers some
benefit on downhill grades, but must never be taken to the extreme of turning
off the engine: this cuts power to steering and brakes, making it hard to
control the vehicle.
Don't use cruise control
Cruise keeps the vehicle at a constant speed. The dedicated
hypermiler adopts a different technique, letting the vehicle gain speed on down
grades and using that momentum to climb the next hill. Warning: this is pretty
much guaranteed to irritate other road users!
Slip-streaming (a.k.a. "tailgating")
When a vehicle moves down the highway, it leaves a hole in
the air behind it. Only the most obsessive hypermilers exploit this, driving
very close behind large trucks, which, while effective in reducing fuel
consumption, is also very dangerous.
Hypermiling contests
Hypermilers eager to pit their skills against those of
others enter contests. Held in many locations around the country, competitors
follow a set course while trying to use as little gas as possible. Technically
challenging, but perhaps lacking the excitement of other motor sport events?
Like coupon-clipping, driving carefully to minimize gas
consumption makes good economic sense. However, taking it to the extreme, as
hypermilers do, takes significant commitment and a willingness to irritate
others. So, proceed with caution, gas-savers, and find a happy medium.
