This Guy Can Get 59 MPG in a Plain Old Accord. Beat That, Punk.
Drafting 18-wheelers with the engine off, taking death turns at 52 miles an hour, and other lessons learned while riding shotgun with the king of the hypermilers.
For your holiday driving pleasure, a classic car piece. Don't try this at home.
on a midsummer saturday in a sprawling wisconsin parking lot, about a dozen people are milling about a candy-apple red Honda Insight. They're watching Wayne Gerdes prepare for his run in Hybridfest's mpg Challenge, a 20-mile race through the streets of Madison. Wayne is the odds-on favorite to win the challenge, in which drivers compete to push the automotive limits not of speed and power—a desire those gathered here consider old-fashioned and wasteful—but for the unsexy title of Most Fuel-Efficient Driver in the World.
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Wayne is believed to be that driver, but he's nervous, because all day long the hypermilers—the term Wayne invented to describe the band of brothers who push the limits of fuel efficiency—have been getting crazy-high miles-per-gallon readings, as much as 100 mpg. For the race, he's borrowed a buddy's Insight and, in order to decrease the car's mass, jettisoned everything that's not screwed down. Car detritus—a pillow, towels, cleaning supplies, a tool kit—sits neatly on a blanket on the macadam.
What can't be jettisoned is Wayne himself, who at 6 feet 1 inch and 210 pounds looks too big to fit into this tin can two-seater. ("I would love to lose 60 pounds," he tells me, "because it would help my mileage.") In Wayne's world, fuel efficiency is not about the car. It's about the driver. Wayne doesn't get high mpg marks by tinkering with engines or using funky fuels or even, most days, by driving a hybrid. He gets them by driving consciously—hyperconsciously. He takes out his wallet and his keys. Then he removes his sneakers. "We'll put them on eBay," cracks one of the onlookers. "He's speeding," someone says as Wayne exits the parking lot. "Look at him go." Wayne is doing no more than 15 miles per hour. Before he's out of sight, though, he turns a full loop on the exit road to slow himself down, so he doesn't have to brake at a traffic jam ahead. Wayne hates braking.
Forty-five minutes later, Wayne is still driving the bucolic 20-mile course when raindrops as big as marbles begin falling and winds send trash hurtling across the parking lot. Everyone runs for cover, and I jump into a Toyota Prius owned by one of Wayne's hypermiling buddies, Dave Bassage. Puddles and high winds are a hypermiler's nightmare. "Nature's putting on its own energy show," says Bassage, watching the blasts of lightning through his water-splattered windshield. "This pretty much screws Wayne."
two nights earlier, on a clammy 80-degree Chicago evening, I wait for Wayne at the curb at O'Hare International Airport. I first see his technique as the car he's driving, a 2006 Honda Civic Hybrid, pulls over to pick me up. Drifts over, actually, like a jellyfish. Around Wayne is madness in motion: Drivers in four lanes are accelerating hard, weaving erratically, or grinding to a halt. To Wayne, these are the driving habits of the ignorant and the wasteful—which is to say, nearly all of us. Wayne's car glides to a stop as if it has run out of gas. Wayne has stopped without braking.
The car is owned by his friend Terry Honaker, who, with his wife, Cathy, is along for the ride. Inside it's hotter and even more humid than outside. As we take off—or, more accurately, as the vehicle rolls forward really slowly—I notice that all four windows are closed and the AC is off. I'm sitting in one of the most technologically advanced cars in the world, and it feels like I'm trapped in a fanless tollbooth in Biloxi, Mississippi, in August. We take the interstate to Wayne's house. The speed limit is 55, and most of the traffic is zipping past at 75 or so, but Wayne hovers around 50 mph. He's riding the white line on the right side of the right-hand lane.
"Why are you doing that?" I ask from the backseat. "It's called ridge-riding," he explains, using another term he's invented. He ridge-rides to let people behind him know that he is moving slowly. I imagine it's also a way to avoid dying plastered to the grill of a semi. Ridge-riding, Wayne explains, saves gas in the rain, as it gets the wheels out of the puddly grooves in the road created by more, let's say, traditional drivers. "People are burning fuel to throw water in the air," he says, adding that you can hear if you're driving in the road's grooves or out of them. That's interesting, but I'm having a hard time concentrating, because my back and butt are beginning to stick to the seat. "Is anybody a little warm in here?" I ask.
I don't think Wayne hears me, because, as a Chevy Tahoe whizzes by, he notes, "I imagine that it's getting 10 to 13 miles per gallon climbing this hill. We're getting about 80. It'll drive you crazy." I'm thinking that hypermiling consists of driving like a 90-year-old in a mobile sweat lodge, but I'm about to find out I'm wrong. Really, really wrong.
"Buckle up tight, because this is the death turn," says Wayne. Death turn? We're moving at 50 mph. Wayne turns off the engine. He's bearing down on the exit, and as he turns the wheel sharply to the right, the tires squeal—which is what happens when you take a 25 mph turn going 50. Cathy, Terry's wife, who is sitting next to me in the backseat, grabs my leg. I grab the door handle. As we come out of the 270-degree turn, Cathy says, "I hope you have upholstery cleaner."
We glide for over a mile with the engine off, past a gas station, right at a green light, through another green light—Wayne is always timing his speed to land green lights—and around a mall, using momentum in a way that would have made Isaac Newton proud. "Are we going to attempt that at home?" Cathy asks Terry, a talkative man who has been stone silent since Wayne executed the death turn in his car. "Not in this lifetime," he shoots back.
Wayne is paying attention to the road, not the banter. He's had to turn the engine back on earlier than he usually does after taking the death turn. "I hit the turn at 50, 51," he says. "I should have hit it at 52."
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Hey Wayne, your mileage ain't worth my life!
How many accidents has your stupid, illegal, and dangerous, fetish caused? Any dead yet or are you still working on that?
http://fromzcorner.blogspot.com/2007/05/hey-wayne-your-mileage-aint-wort...
For the sake of saving a few bucks? The man is a driving hazard. Straddling the right hand shoulder line, doing double the speed limit around corners, doing well under the speed limit in other areas. Just a matter of time before his luck runs out and his dangerous driving techniques get him or someone else killed.
I say, put the extra 10 bucks a week in your tank and drive properly.
Try it!! I am getting 48 to 49 mpg from an 85 Honda Civic I don’t go over 55 and have started turning to thing off in when ever I can I go slow and there have been no crashes or even close calls around me.
I fact my driving must be hyper vigilant to archive the mileage I get, no reading, cell phones, or other dangerous silly non driving activities.
No if you crash in to a hypermiler if will be your fault. My commute is 33 miles if I went 65 instead of 55 the difference is two minuets if at any time traffic moves slower the differential is decreased. It is dumb, unconscious, irresponsible and just plain wrong to speed to a red light or go racing off the line only to slam on the brakes a few seconds later. The average speed of my 33 mile commute which the takes 1.5 hours is 22 miles an hour. Ok so slow down you will live longer enjoy or drive and have a little more change in your pockets.
Okay, I get some of the ideas expressed, from both sides. I don't like the idea of getting 18 mpg in my van so I also try to conserve, if possible. On the Highway, driving 55 seems to be common sense for fuel economy since it is simply a fact that modern cars are more economical at 55 and mpg go down from there (as any of us know this would be an unsafe speed (55) for all others on the road).
A speed of 60 or at a max 65 seems to be pushing common sense for fuel economy, but this concept is not for the personal whims of those who getting 'wherever' now is perceived to be their 'legal' right, which it is not. The "legal" limit in any area I am near is 65. I understand most don't like the idea of 'rules' or 'limits' but these words are necessary to raise in a discussion like this.
I personally drive 65 outside the major cities I live near. I live near but not between, Milwaukee and Chicago (I 43), but when I am in those cities I go with the flow for the safety of me, mine and others. This is often in excess of the max posted speed of 55.
My observation is most don't care either way (in going UNDER or OVER) what the posted speed is no mater what is safe or sane, including these 'hypermilers'.
In personally driving in a rural highway system where there is NO traffic, I find that most commercial vehicles and almost all others will approach very near me before changing lanes. Before some have completely passed, they will change back into the right lane which is the one that I am in. A few will never allow their right two wheels make it completely into the left lane before THEY return(?) into the lane I am in. WOW! I am doing the POSTED speed. I am in the RIGHT lane. They are playing (messing) with the lives of me and sometimes my family too.
I am personally trying to do what seems to be right with what I have.
For what reason (or point) do they do this to jeopardize me and my?
You supply the answer.
This comment hasn't even touched on the aspect of speeding through a residential district that involves children that live in the neighborhood we drive through.
Sorry for the rant, but driving IS unsafe if one is trying to conserve fuel in a reasonable, let alone in a 'hyper', way.
I get 1000 MPG coloric eqlialant on my Bicycle, smile alot and hope you all will join me soon!:)
While I do not agree with the insane exit ramp speeds (roll-over comes to mind), I do agree with slowing down.
I have tried driving a maximum of 59 MPH this weekend, and saw my Windstar jump to 26.1 miles per gallon (average for 3 tanks this trip). I had never seen over 21 MPG while "going with the flow". I did not shift to neutral, or turn off the engine. I did keep the windows closed, carried 6 adult passengers and their luggage, A/C on.
The signs on the road "Speed Limit" mean exactly that. What word did you not understand? Why do you still have a license? Most interstates also have a minimum speed posted. Usually 45 MPH.
Driving is a PRIVELIGE, not a RIGHT! Perhaps those who cannot read should have that privelige revolked. At least is would solve some of the congestion problem.
The point is that there are reasonable ways to save without jeapordizing people's lives.
You go, Wayne. (But not too fast.) Kindred spirit, I think. Check out my "homemade hybrid" blog, tell me what you think. What is your rule of thumb for idling? http://homemadehybrid.blogspot.com/
racing is quite frightening
racing is quite frightening and challenging as well. I applause Wayne for that. Hypermiling techniques will surely put impact on the driver. Did you know that our driving style has a big impact on fuel economy? And by changing the way we drive improves fuel economy by 37%.
i hope the local police have taken note of this article. they have a written admission of guilt on reckless driving. i hope he gets a nice fat ticket in the mail for his habits. maybe people going 80 is a little dangerous in a 65mph zone.. but at least they have full control over their vehicle. if you have your engine off you dont have full power to your brake booster, and thus not full power to stop in an emergency situation. PLUS his little Insight or Accord with 195/205mm wide tires is NOT designed to do double the speed limit.
at least if i do 55mph on a 25-30mph speed limit off-ramp, i'm doing it in a Porsche, with 245mm-295mm wide Z-rated tires (front/back), in a car designed to do over 120mph on German highways. if someone or something got in my way i could stop or avoid it safely. you certainly cannot say the same for an econobox. if you mash the brakes at 55mph in a 25mph turn on that car, you will either: a) slide right off the road as the front-heavy weight bias of your car induces heavy understeer, or b) roll over promptly if your front tires catch traction and send the rear out.
these people need to be doing this where any OTHER motorsport would be safely acting - on a TRACK.
Keep it on the track, folks.
blah blah blah this Morgan moron has no sense of what going slow is about. When one is going slower than every thing else on the road all the danger is moving away from from you. Dropping a standard transmission into gear gets you instant braking vacum. Additionally the article is written by a reporter who soiled him self and has biased the piece with the only sensational thing he could find about going slow. Power from gasoline is last week. Old news. Done. Open your mind, get out of the box. Like the guy said his average speed for 33 miles on the interstate is 22 miles an hour. Trying to go fast in rush hour traffic is just, well, like our president staying the course, when that dog don't hunt. Slow down America! Look around. Racing to the red were gona' get there first.
In some older cars like mine (1979 VW Superbeetle), there is no brake booster to begin with, so turning the car off would pose no safety problem. At least for braking. The only thing I would have to watch out for is turning the key too far, and locking the steering collum.
I've always coasted down hills, but I've never thought about turning the car off. I guess I'm just afraid of it not turning back on, haha.
Also going 5 mpg under the limit isn't that big of a deal, especially in the far right lane. If someone going 5 under in the right lane is a "safety hazard" to you, you're going way too fast.
I commend the hypermilers! In a time when people losing their lives in Iraq for oil we should use every drop as efficiently as possible. These people are making a small sacrifice so fewer people will be asked to make the ultimate sacrifice.
I also have been driving more like Wayne. I drive the speed limit now and use cruise control and let everyone pass me. It is amazaing when a tank full of gas lasts for an extra driving day. Some of the time I loose by drivng slow I get back by not sitting at a gas station as often as everyone else.
The less oil we use here the fewer people we have to send to Iraq.
Stop being a cheap retard.
Keep it up. I'd advise you to stop being cheap like Chuck said, but it's only a matter of time till you slip up and crash. And although you are a hazard to others on the road, your cheap tin can won't out duel my beast. These new cars are cheap as sh*t so you running into me is like a BB going thru paper.
Impressive... The amount of
Impressive... The amount of vitrol directed at Wayne by people who dump fuel at every turn, and want to justify themselves. True-- turning your car off might not be the best idea, but most of the accidents come from idiots not paying attention. Or, you know, convinced that their "beast" will drive through the "tin cans" every other fool drives. I'm not going to take it to this extreme, and I doubt many others will, but slowing down a few KPH, timing red lights, or going into neutral down long hills-- they're not bad things to think about. If nothing else, they'll keep you paying attention to the road while other people are trying to text...
Another factor to consider when doing this: Loss of power steering. I like your bravado and courage to pursue this activity. I think however, that you probably could do far better with a very smal car and drop some of the more unsafe practices. Your ultimate goal is to conserve fuel, yes. Change your entire lifestyle and consume less. Look back on the middle 180s and see what people did without, and how they lived. At first look, you (and the readers) may ridicule me, but upon closer study, you may be surprised to find how happy people were with a simpler (and less energy consuming) life.
I agree on trying to save gas. I also coast to a stop when there's red light. But if you're coasting to an off-ramp, forcing all others behind you to go 20mph below speed limit, you are actually a road hazard AND you are DECREASING the fuel economy of the population as a whole since half of the other drivers have to brake for you. Also, what is the sense in "saving" gas if you're just burning it all for some contest? Wayne's intentions are good, but he's not really fulfilling his goal properly.
Your a stupid moron stop complaining about wasting gas,if you're so concerned about by a bike or carpool.
Your a hazard to humanity kill yourself before you kill someone.
Good Job Hypermilers! This is a great idea. Hypermilers are only hazzards to those breaking the law(speeding), thats why I would definitly not favor turning your car off while driving(illegal, and doesn't it hurt your transmission?) but other than that, go for it. If we could get more people to do this, it would seem less out of the ordinary to those that continue to drive 15-20 mph over the speed limit. Not only does hypermiling help our dependance from OPEC, its good for the earth, and most importantly it helps your wallet.
hey, I tried this in my 2000 bmw 528, nothing crazy, just slowing down and watching the fuel consumption display. I reached my destination safeley and increased my mpg from 24.7 to 40.2 in one trip. It did cost me about an additional 5 mins of commute time but I was more relaxed. You don't need to go to the extremes mentioned in the article, just reduce your consumption a little to make a difference is the point.
I don't agree with turning the engine off and on while going down any highway especially since most of your car's control system like power steering and break boost are lost as a result of the engine being turn off. But an alternative for me which I found useful with a manual shift, is to simply depress the clutch for coasting to allow the engine to disengage. I very strongly disagree with taking turns at a much higher rate of speed than recommended to save a little extra on the gas. As far as driving slower, as mentioned before, just because the maximum speed states 55 or 65, does not mean that you cannot drive 5 - 10 mph below the posted speed, and in fact there is usually a minimum speed posted as well which Wayne appears to maintain. The true problem arises with people who are driving well beyond the posted speed and who are weaving in and out of traffic. Wayne stays off towards the side and in the non-passing lanes, which means that the passing lane is clear for any one who wants to pass. Simply by slowing down, disengaging the engine by depressing the clutch while going downhill, shifting the car at lower rpm's, I have gained an extra 10mpg. Which means that I can travel an extra 150 miles on a tank of gas. If prices ever get into the $8/gallon range like it is in Europe, I doubt many people will find some of these examples outrageous. Also, I would must rather get into an accident at 50mph instead of 75mph.
I really feel good now. Saving gas is wonderful, but bring back the real gas saver cars. I drive a geo storm and I drive it hard. I race off from a stop light, I zoom around those way too slow cars just so I can get to the speed limit and then drive 5 to 8 mph over it if I can. I slow WAYYYYYY down for ramps and I don't tailgate anyone, and as for the drafting, I probably provide a lot of that and I am still getting 31mpg in the city and 48 on the interstate. So for me, it's proof not how you drive, but what you drive. I say bring back that 4 cylinder gas sipper!! (and before someone says something about 3 cylinders, my storm has 4) :)
I know everyone wants to save a buck at the pump including me but where does it end. I mean this is a little rediculous what gives you the right to speed others aren't allowed to. You're going to injury someone or yourself. I can see following the speed limit, turning off the AC and keeping the windows closed but turning off the car thats just crazy.
What a useless fetish. You have no impact. You cause delays by your slow starts and turtle stops. You are a controlled fool who has bought in to Al Gore. I make a solid living and will live life to the fullest. I will have my ac on and drive as fast as legal.
I've read quite a few articles on you guys, you "hypermilers," and I am not pleased at all. It sounds like you are an accident waiting to happen. On the interstate, any vehicle moving slower than the other cars is an interruption in the flow of traffic, and either needs to LEAVE or SPEED UP. I drive a 1999 Dodge Durango. It has a V8. Usually one person occupies it at a time. Wastes gas? Not a drop. I use every bit of it to haul my 5000-pound vehicle around :-) I drive an SUV because they're SAFE, I've driven through mud (in the rain, mind you) and never gotten stuck. It currently has 207,000 miles on it and is still running strong. I can't justify paying that much for a vehicle when you are crippling yourself with a front-wheel drive SUBcompact car.
i think the whole hyper-miling thing is stupid, but this would definitely help. It may even allow them to drive a little faster:
http://news.com.com/8301-10784_3-9725898-7.html
We should all try to conserver gas by driving more conservatively. That said, what this guy and others are doing is beyond extreme and potentially very dangerous. Slow down to the speed limit and don't jack rabbit start and you'll be amazed at the results.
Rather than turning off his engine, why doesn't he just buy a Prius? The Prius engine shuts off automatically and goes into hybrid mode when going down hills and stopping at lights. Makes more sense and much safer than what he's doing.
You rock, Wayne. Society needs more people like you -- committed in your daily life to personal experimentation. You're an inspiration.
When you take a 270-degree exit ramp curve at such a high speed that your tires squeal, you are causing greatly accellerated wear on your tires, which will cost you more than the few drops of fuel saved. Drafting trucks? Not only is that dangerous, stressful, and illegal, but think of all the rocks that the truck kicks up, chipping your car's paint job and possibly damaging one of those hundred-dollar headlights or cracking your $400 windshield. Hey, if you want to really get crazy, just get behind a truck, snag a rope to it's rear bumper, and get a free tow. (Only kidding!) Just drive conservatively (obey speed limits), watching the traffic and traffic lights ahead, and pretend you have a rotten egg under the accelerator pedal, and you'll be amazed at how much better fuel economy you'll get. Unload junk from your car, but don't be stupid and toss out your spare tire and associated tools. And if you're overweight, get some exercise and watch what you eat - - those pounds you loose will be the best riddence of all.
Most of these ideas are common sense to the extreme. I think if drivers would at least learn how to coast to the next red light, that'd be great. I'm surprised Wayne doesn't buy a motorcycle. At least he'd have a breeze on his commute. I wonder how many stop signs and lights he doesn't stop at. I wonder how often he buys new tires. And hybrids!? Please. Why when you can get numerous cars now with 40 mpg and way less electronics to go wrong and far cheaper? BTW guys, if you haven't had defensive driving recently, you may have forgotten that most accidents on the road are caused by drivers going too slow (or so they say).
I tried some of the more modest techniques suggested by the hypermilers with a 2000 Windstar, and got 35 mpg on the highway, not the 21 MPG that the DOT says you get with a 2000 Windstar. It was so amazing that I thought I may have miscalucated, but my wife agrees: we got a 60% increase in milage. What did we do? Kept the speed at about 60 mph, not 75, used the cruise control, and often followed behind a semi, but we kept about 3-4 carlengths behind, not one. (The idea was not to draft, but let a large vehicle break the wind resistance a bit by its size; I have no idea if that actually works, and I intend to see if there is some data on it somewhere on the net.)
Illegal, and unsafe on public roads? Yes.Do it on a track/ or research center. However, I do support the idea of pushing the envelope to find better, more effective ways to move us around. Many lives have been lost on long road of automobile innovation,improvement, and safty.
Lets perfect this concept, I'm asking hyper milers to debug their methods. You've gone this far, and you have proven there is something substantial to gain here, take it to the next level. Make it safe for everyone. If you guys are as smart as you think you are, then this should a 'no-brainer'.
Heres another motivator, someone mentioned in another connent about the fact that your driving technique deminishes the efficency for dozens of other cars around you. Will you let your efforts be for not? Can you fix this problem?
JAMZ
Everyone commenting on how illegal and unsafe his driving is needs to take a harder look at the illegal and unsafe ways they themselves drive. He's just on the opposite end of the spectrum. If you're upset at the way he drives, it's probably because you don't want him to slow you down when you're speeding. If you're under the speed limit, then his 50 isn't going to bother you much. Those of you who drive too fast and think people like Wayne create the danger - not you - need a basic refresher course in logic. More power to you Wayne!
I say "screw the Saudis"! Hypermile on. People that bitch about us need to realize the speed limit is the MAXIMUM speed you are allowed. You are the ones who need to be ticketed. On most interstates in the south, legal minimum speed is 45. Wouldn't Wayne love that!
I can relate to some of this , We roll past stop signs and take corners faster than usual But all this doesnt help completely in saving gas .
I work in the Auto Parts Industry and I see several mistakes people make , Your best mileage occurs when you take care of your car . The biggest is reading your owners manual as it tells you things you need to know , Especially Preventitive MAintenance . The most common mistakes i see are , Not replacing the Oxygen sensor , Useing good oil and not checking your air filter are other ways to slow down mileage .
I applaud Wayne for "pushing the envelope" that's how progress is made! I use some of his techniques but avoid some of the riskier ones. I don't want to just put a dent in the oil companies profits - I want to obliterate them! I converted my 1998 merc mystique 4cyl, 5 spd manual to burn E85 (85% ethanol/15% gas), use synthetic oil, overinflate my tires a few pounds, coast a lot, use cruise on the hwy, travel at 55 on the hwy, and installed a Scan Gauge so I can see how my driving affects mileage from second to second. I'm getting 31 - 36 mpg on E85 in a car that's rated at 26 - 28 mpg on gas. I don't know how any one driving an SUV or Hummer at 80 mph can say that they are not wasting gas! They just don't know what waste means! They are ignorant & stupid and causing the price of fuel to go up for every one else!
Hypermiling is the coolest thing ever!
I will now drive faster and use more gas to negate any fuel this moron is conserving.
i agree with tom. my bicycle is my primary mode of transportation. when i can't avoid it, i drive my car. i'm going to trade my cherokee in for a honda fit. in my mid-life crisis when i have the money, i'll buy a tesla.
I say Great for anyone who helps decrease the amount of fuel we consume. Personally I am extremely busy working for people who don't care about my fuel efficiency. Sooo, I'll continue to live in the left hand lane, please stay to the right!
The reporter may be focusing on dramatic stuff like death turns and drafting trucks (that's what reporters DO), but 90% of what Wayne is doing to save gas is perfectly legal and safe. Those who think Wayne is a hazard don't understand that he's about 3 times as alert as the average driver. And even his "unsafe" techniques pale in comparison to the stuff I see on the roads on a daily basis.
And most of those who criticize the choice of vehicle because it's not as "safe" as your Durango (which has a far higher death rate than Wayne's Accord, FYI) or not as capable as your Porsche: you guys are just trying to justify your exorbitant spending to yourselves. I don't drive an econobox now, but I have in the past, and they're far more capable than most of the sloppy SUVs and minivans on the road.
And midsize cars like an Accord or most hybrids are actually safer than most SUVs, which tend to get in accidents more often and don't crash as well. In crashes, their excess mass tends to force the burden of their drivers' incompetence onto others. The "feeling" of safety in a large SUV is a false one. I've felt it myself, but I'm intelligent enough to recognize that it is an illusion.
Back to fuel economy, I was a doubter that technique made much difference in mpg until about 2 months ago, but with gas costing $3.39 I decided to try hypermiling as a temporary experiment. In the first tank I improved my mpg from 22 to 28, and 4 tanks later I'm getting right around 30. That's in the city, in a Subaru with all wheel drive. I'm calling the experiment over and I now consider the changes to my driving style permanent.
By far the biggest gains came from leaving more room in front of me and looking further ahead. Don't accelerate unless you know you'll be going that speed for a considerable distance. Don't be on the gas unless you KNOW the light ahead of you is going to be green when you get there. Look 3 lights ahead if you can see them. All this is legal, 100% safe, and there are several studies out there that it actually smooths the flow of traffic and REDUCES CONGESTION. So stop whining that we're clogging up the roads. It just ain't so.
Now that I'm doing this stuff, I'm astounded at how everyone around me drives. Approaching red lights, almost NO ONE starts slowing down until they HAVE to. Start noticing this, and you soon realize how utterly stupid it is. And I drove that way too, until 2 months ago.
Other changes: Keep the speed down on the highway. Accelerate moderately so you don't put too much load on the engine, but don't waste too much time getting into your vehicle's most efficient speed range (about 25-45 mph on my car). Turn the engine off if it's going to be idling at a light for more than 15 seconds.
Again, there's nothing radical or dangerous about what I or most hypermilers are doing. We're among the most safe drivers on the road because we're far more attentive and mostly driving at lower speeds.
yeah saving gas is cool and all it also helps save money... however using the brakes are not gonna hurt your gas mileage too bad, plus has anyone looked at the mpg for newer cars they suck! some of the little cars get about the same as a truck. I drive around a 66 chevy II nova and it does around 23ish mpg. i have been more aware of the speed i'm going (going the speed limit) and it does help i did not calculate it yet but it has lasted a week and a half without me filling up the car. i have coasted down this hill be4 i get to my house before i read this article (nothing is powered lol which means when off it functions exactly the same as if its on... just pop it in neutral and the trans doesn't get harmed) however it uses gas to turn the vehicle back on and if its only for less than a minute it wont save fuel. also about the E 85 yeah its cheaper but it doesn't last as long as reg. gas does due to it having less oct. its sorta having 15% of your tank missing when filled. personally with my experience on the road people really don't know how to drive and it kinda bugs me when people only go 35 on a 45 mph zone and when people run red lights (i usually stall out because of stopping lest i hit the car) i really think all people need to do is go the speed limit and obey simple (what i think common sense) rules. thats sorta why highway laws are out there to keep everyone safe 8)!
I like ideas like this. I saw that Social Venture Network is holding a contest to award socially responsible business leaders and help them further their endeavors! You can get all the rules and background here: www.svn.org/imaginewhatsnext
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Try placing a on/off switch between your ignition switch (the place where you put your key) and the fuel pump solenoid to cut fuel consumption when coasting down hills or decelerating. This works with both standard or automatic transmittions. You keep your radio, air, power steering and brakes for speeds as low as 25 mpg. This could increase your gas milage by as much as 30% or more.
His technique may save his gas, but I doubt he is considering the impact of his driving on others. By driving slow and erratic, he must cause others to brake and a chain reaction could cause much more gas to be expended by others.
Those unwilling to try hypermiling are threatened and abusive. Not ONE person posting these comments who has actually tried hypermiling is negative on the subject. Driving more efficiently has NOTHING to do what what you drive. You could be driving a Hummer and still use the very same hypermiling driving techniques that Wayne uses.
And to the idiot Steiner who wrote he'll drive faster and use more gas to compensate for Wayne using less -- haha, idiot, it's your wallet paying for it. The joke's on you, MORON.
By not trying too hard, I got 50mpg out of a '91 Honda CRX SI (EPA 28/32 mpg). The problem with hypermiling is exactly as others have mentioned - If you are causing others to burn more fuel in the process of your saving it, its really a 0 sum game (actually worse because for every one hypermiler on the road doing 50mph - there are hundreds of ignorant drivers hammering their throttle in order to get around said hypermiler). I was thinking of introducing a bumper-sticker that says "Hypermiler" ... establish rules for ALL hypermilers (like drafting, turning the engine off, coasting, braking (or lack thereof), etc), and we could all tail-gate eachother knowing exactly what to expect from oneanother. Just keep in mind that for every mile per gallon a hypermiler saves ... many more are being burned by those not conscious of "hypermiling".
