The other side of hypermiling

[jwight]

Some of these things have been discussed here; this is a nice overall look at the pros & cons.

Squeezing gas for the very last mile - Oil & energy - MSNBC.com

[Kermit]

OK, so who's the experts though? Over the last 5 years I've had many a heated discussion with one of the individuals mentioned in the article about certain techniques applied in certain areas (geographic locations). You also need to have tip top reflexes and don't do stupid things like draft right up on someones bumper like the SUVs do our smarts.

Hypermiling isn't for everyone. My bit of advice, drive easy and just do the speedlimit - not much more if you have to speed. Do that and you'll get plenty over the EPA ratings of our little cars. Everyone here already knows that though.

[jwight]

I think that's kinda the point of the article, and it does cover the pros and cons (such as drafting and driving way under the speed limit.)

[ShoshTrvls]

On another thread here, someone posted (boasted, actually) that they were saving gas by, among other things, coasting through stop signs. I find this sort of behavior truly reprehensible, believing that your $.50 is worth more than the life and safety of others.

[rawlus®]

the hypermiling hysteria is over the top.
real activists and advocates can be selfish in their behavior, endangering others in their quest for .5 more MPG.
the news media does more harm than good with these types of articles IMHO.
i'd like to take the driver's license away from most of the hyper-milers i see on the roadway.

[Kermit]

In my neck of the woods, 2 lane roads with a 60mph speed limit the norm is 70mph. I just keep wondering why do they have these speed limit signs? What a waste of metal and paint.

That being said, I do see more people doing darn close to the speed limit - quite a few have slowed down. I'm more about hypermiling via little mods to the car here and there. No running stop signs, no riding ANY cars rear end - I keep a very safe distance but that's just me. If there is no one behind be, I'll coast down hills and to stops. At stop lights I am familiar with and know I'll be sitting for longer than a minute - I shut down the engine keeping an eye on the reflection of the opposite light for when it is about to change.

This article seemed more negative for hypermilers than positive IMO.

[xcrew229x]

One stop sign or impeding traffic ticket will really deflate their fuel savings.

[angel]

I like to read the hypermiling tips. I can't do what they do. I'd get run over or shot at here in the DFW area. But I have tried to slow down some and time traffic lights better.

[Suze]

"You can see a big difference, for example, by turning off your air conditioning, while making sure to keep your windows closed to reduce drag. By rolling your windows down, “you’re creating an open hole on the side of the car, and the air flow will just accumulate in the vehicle,” said Steve Gehrlein, owner of Cambridge Automotive and host of a popular car-repair radio show in San Antonio, Texas."


so are they saying that an open window negates any savings you might get by turning the AC off?

I can pretty much handle no AC with window down, but if it's the same or even worse to have the window down, I'll go back to AC.

Suze

[jwight]

Depends on the speed; around town, open the windows. At highway speeds, close the windows for less drag.