Pulse and Glide (Hypermiling trick)

[Smart Enuf]

Originally Posted by mmmeat

While the logic used by states like California to get to the handsfree laws is thready and stupid at best, I tend to look at hands free this way:

If someone is driving along drifting around the lane, nudging other cars, speeding up and slowing down then other drivers are going to react in one of two very distinct ways:

1. If the other drivers see an idiot on a cell phone, they're going to get angry and road ragey on his butt.

2. If the other drivers see someone driving along talking to empty space, they're going to leave him alone. You don't mess with crazy people that talk to themselves.

Your pal,
Meat.

I just love the ones that talk with hand gestures while driving! I usually see those as they barrel towards me on my bike.

[unicycle]

I'm just hoping to remind anyone who's read this far that the original point of this thread was to discuss the hypermiling trick of Pulse & Glide (or the P&G + Coast variety). Any discussions about road rage and cell phones is purely incidental and should be left to their own threads. I'll even start a cell phone thread for those of you who need to vent on that subject.

Back to our regularly scheduled programming:

On my way back home today, I'll try P&G + coast to see if I can maintain my 5-10% increase in mileage*. I'm positive that the technique worked on my way into The City, but it certainly would be better to bolster my findings with more trial runs. [And for those concerned: I'll be doing this where there are no other drivers to annoy with my slow pace and such -- don't worry!]

* For the record, I usually use 1.6-1.7 gallons into Manhattan, and yesterday I managed to use only 1.45, according to ScanGauge.

[mmmeat]

Originally Posted by unicycle

I'm just hoping to remind anyone who's read this far that the original point of this thread was to discuss the hypermiling trick of Pulse & Glide (or the P&G + Coast variety).

Why stop there in the backtracking? Go back to where the discussion was about hybrids, and how to do this. P&G is a hybrid hypermiler trick that is used with cars that have the technology to shut down the engine and run off the battery.

That is not something a Smart can do.

Go back to the source.

Your pal,
Meat.

[Kermit]

Originally Posted by mmmeat

Why stop there in the backtracking? Go back to where the discussion was about hybrids, and how to do this. P&G is a hybrid hypermiler trick that is used with cars that have the technology to shut down the engine and run off the battery.

That is not something a Smart can do.

Go back to the source.

Your pal,
Meat.

You need to go hop in your Smart and try it to prove that theory wrong. I'm thinking Unicycle is saying it worked for him and I know it works for me.

ADD: For the record - The first gen Honda HYBRID NEVER ran exclusively off battery power. There's some mods to make it do that, but never from the factory.

[mmmeat]

Originally Posted by Bum-bling-B

You need to go hop in your Smart and try it to prove that theory wrong.

Why? It's an idiotic way to drive and it's certainly not all that great on a car that's not designed for knuckleheaded stunts like that.

Your pal,
Meat.

[NCC1701]

As I said earlier, I am skeptical about the P&G thing. On the other hand, I've never been one to power up to a traffic signal and slam on brakes either. If I see an unquestionable stop up ahead, even several blocks away, I'm OFF the gas immediately. In the past, I think this might have annoyed the average city drivers who DID power right up to the point of applying brakes. Not so much any more though, it seems like most people have gotten the hint from gas pumps. Recently, I've experimented with doing my coasting out of gear. Sure does make a difference.

An aside: I used to live in Cripple Creek, Colorado. Some 35 miles west and 3500' above Colorado Springs. There was one stretch where I could coast with my motor shut down for about 14 MILES! At the time I was driving a 1969 Ford Custom and the steering didn't lock with the key in the off position. On this stretch there was one hill where you'd slow down dangerously, but it was a heavy car and with enough momentum I'd make it over the hump and continue my coast. I looked at it as regaining some of the money I'd paid to climb the grade going the other direction.

[Kermit]

Originally Posted by mmmeat

Why? It's an idiotic way to drive and it's certainly not all that great on a car that's not designed for knuckleheaded stunts like that.

Your pal,
Meat.

OK - I'll bite the bait. Idiotic because YOU said so? :crybaby:From what Unicycle said he doesn't do it around other cars, I can same for myself and with traffic I know I keep the flow moving unless the group of cars start trying to do 30mph over the speed limit as a group (I'm always the one guy that gets busted out of 15 cars doing the same thing wrong when I'm in the middle of the crowd).

Now saying it's a knuckleheaded stunt because "the car wasn't designed for it" is also saying everyone here that Auto-X's their Smart are driving idiotic too because "the car wasn't designed for it". Or how about adding an aftermarket exhaust, that too would be idiotic because "the car wasn't designed for it". Those after market wheels? Idiotic because "the car wasn't designed for it". Blacking out those headlights? Why that's just DUMB - right? only because "the car wasn't designed for it". You see where I'm going with this -- as a matter of fact IF/when my transmission goes out for doing a neutral coast I'll honestly fess up and say you were right. I don't see that happening - I've got a cool 8k+ behind the wheel of my Smart now and I can tell you it shifts right back into gear fine when going from "N" to "D", just like it is going from one gear to another and not at all as harsh as a normal downshift in a regular standard transmission car.

[unicycle]

Originally Posted by Bum-bling-B

You need to go hop in your Smart and try it to prove that theory wrong. I'm thinking Unicycle is saying it worked for him and I know it works for me.

Thanks, B!

Here is my evening update after my uphill ride home:

I got the feeling that the P&G was working, and the ScanGauge may have borne this out. Apparently my return trip took me about 1.5 gal, rather than 1.7 it usu takes. BUT, it's possible that the SG was set improperly after the most recent fillup, so I'm not sure. My fillup showed me that over the 8 gallons I'd put in, I got 'only' 370 miles or so, averaging just over 45 mpg, which is about avg for me lately.

I'll keep P&G'ing over the next tank and will have some better stats soon.

[mmmeat]

Originally Posted by Bum-bling-B

OK - I'll bite the bait. Idiotic because YOU said so?

Nope.

Originally Posted by Bum-bling-B

From what Unicycle said he doesn't do it around other cars

In Manhattan. Really. Uh huh.

Originally Posted by Bum-bling-B

Now saying it's a knuckleheaded stunt because "the car wasn't designed for it" is also saying everyone here that Auto-X's their Smart are driving idiotic too because "the car wasn't designed for it".

How do you figure? Proper autocrossing is driving the vehicle within it's limits, turning left and right, slowing down and speeding up. Autocrossing is about control. ALL automobiles from EVERY manufacturer are who puts out DOT and/or EPA certified vehicles designs them to turn left, right, speed up and slow down and even stop and back up.

Originally Posted by Bum-bling-B

Or how about adding an aftermarket exhaust, that too would be idiotic because "the car wasn't designed for it".

Every manufactured vehicle is designed to have an exhaust system.

Originally Posted by Bum-bling-B

Those after market wheels? Idiotic because "the car wasn't designed for it".

Every manufactured vehicle is designed to have wheels.

Originally Posted by Bum-bling-B

Blacking out those headlights? Why that's just DUMB - right? only because "the car wasn't designed for it".

Every manufactured vehicle is designed to have headlights.

Originally Posted by Bum-bling-B

You see where I'm going with this

Not really; your arguments are incompetent, irrelevant and largely immaterial.

Comparing what the car was designed to do (start, stop, slow down, speed up and turn) and the required mechanical systems for a vehicle to operate on the road to drunk-driving-like behaviour behind the wheel coupled with mishandling and abuse of the transmission doesn't make any sense at all. Not a very good argument on your part.

I appreciate your input, it certainly allows me to put you in the proper grouping.

Beat up your car all you want to. Just don't keep putting the public in danger with your shenanigans.

Your pal,
Meat.

[NCC1701]

Originally Posted by unicycle

I'll keep P&G'ing over the next tank and will have some better stats soon.

We'll all watch for your results. Reproducibility is persuasive.