What is Hypermiling?

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"?

The same goes for saving gas. Modifying driving habits to get a few more miles from every gallon makes good sense, but taken to extremes, or "hypermiling," risks incurring road-rage and can even be dangerous.

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.