Hypermiling - The Great Experiment
A few weeks ago, I posted an article about a guy who regularly gets 50+ MPG in his Honda Accord. Some of the techniques he uses are dangerous and potentially illegal, but many of them are quite simple and pose little risk.
With my current car (a 1998 Honda Accord 4cyl auto), I typically get about 22 MPG around town. I am going to see if by using a few simple hypermilling techniques, I can improve that to somewhere near 27 MPG.
What I plan to do:
- Drive much slower. Going 70 instead of 55 won't save me much time on short commutes, but it uses significantly more fuel.
- Accelerate slowly. I will try to keep my engine close to or under 2000 rpm (redline is 6000 rpm), whenever possible.
- Coast in neutral on downhill slopes and between stoplights. My engine idles below 1000 rpm, but when in gear, it revs much higher.
Here's a list of things I won't do:
- Shut off my engine while driving. This is nuts (plus, I think it will kill my anti-lock brakes and power steering).
- Take turns at wild speeds. Some guys will do this to conserve momentum, but any gains in fuel efficiency will be lost in towing expenses and medical bills if I drive off an overpass.
- Impede traffic. I will try to keep my speed low, but I will not block the flow of traffic. If I'm on a multilane road, I will stay to the right. But if traffic conditions are congested, I will match my speed with that of the other cars.
- Drive without the A/C on. Are you fucking crazy?
- Drafting. Thanks, but no thanks. I value my life.
I will post my results here as the experiment progresses.
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15 commentsReplies
Sally said, (195 days ago)
i used to only put the A/C when i was going down hills in neutral
then i sold my car
that's the best way to save money on petrol
soulcamp said, (195 days ago)
@Sally: I really wish I could stop driving, but where I live, it is nearly impossible. I plan on moving to a city with real public transportation someday, but for the time being, I will have to do the best with what I have.
Deep-Fried Goodness said, (195 days ago)
I've been trying some of those techniques too. Right now, I tend to only need to fill up about once maybe twice a month. Helps that I don't drive to work and have a very fuel efficient little car with a manual transmission.
The Ferguson said, (195 days ago)
The sad thing is that some of these things are a requirement in my car. I don't even have air conditioning...
and I live in Texas!
Matthew... said, (195 days ago)
I do this stuff. The smart stuff, not the dumb stuff. It works pretty well.
Pagne said, (195 days ago)
People in AZ are absolutely addicted to their cars. And it's not really their fault. The metro Phoenix area has some of the worst condistions for pedestrians I've ever seen. No bike lanes, no sidewalks in a lot of places, urban sprawl wider than my ass, and horrendous drivers. I ride my bike 3 miles to work and every time (yes each direction) I nearly get plowed down because AZ drivers forget that pedestrians exist. I somehow failed to mention the fact that it's over 100 degrees for 6 months out of the year.
Despite all of that, individuals aren't doing enough yet. I think the huge hike in gas prices might end up being a good thing because people are finally unable to ignore the problem any longer. Environmental concerns don't have to be an all or nothing deal. People just need to start reducing their consumption of gas. I don't need a car right now so I don't drive one. But lots of people do need them to get to work. So what's stopping them from riding their bike to the grocery store or walking to the mailbox? It would help reduce gas usage and maybe get everyone off their fat asses a little more.
Previous Toast said, (195 days ago)
Have your partner shake back and forth on curves. This will give you blue sparks, and give you a minor speed boost... FOR FREE!
Pagne said, (195 days ago)
Will (betheboy / slackhusband) has actually figured out the solution to gas conservation. For single people anyways.
http://la.metblogs.com/2008/06/16/the-best-idea-ever-or-the-sexy-solution/
Deep-Fried Goodness said, (195 days ago)
@ Pagne: Hahahaha, that's awesome. And I agree, AZ seems to revolve around cars and trucks. You have great roads there, but not for cycling or walking.
soulcamp said, (195 days ago)
@Pagne: He neglected to mention the health benefits of that plan - much less heart disease.
Doesn't Portland have a great public transit system? Lucky.
I was in support of a $3/gallon gas tax 10 years ago, with all the proceeds going toward alternative energy development (well, maybe a little subsidy for truckers). If that had happened, we would not be in the situation that we are today.
I've tried the "put it in neutral" trick as well (on my stick-shift Passat.) It definitely raises the MPG significantly and is easy enough to do (as long as nobody's tailgating you.)
soulcamp said, (194 days ago)
@Mycroft: I think the key is knowing when is the appropriate time to shift if back into gear without losing too much momentum that you have accelerate to get back up to speed. Of course, with a stick, this is even more difficult because you have to match the engine speed or you will wind up either accelerating or engine braking when you shift it back into gear.
But I have found that there's far more momentum than you think. When I turn into my neighborhood, I am able to shift into neutral and coast the 0.3 miles into my driveway, maintaining a pretty constant speed of 20 mph. I even have to brake to prevent driving through my garage door.
soulcamp said, (187 days ago)
After my first tank of gas since starting this, I managed to increase my fuel efficiency to just over 26 MPG, though I'm sure I can do better. I found myself slipping into my old habits on occasion, especially when on the freeway where nearly every car passes me by about 20 mph. I have started using cruise control to maintain 55.
Interesting to note: Senator John Warner recommended today reimposing the national speed limit. While I'm not sure I agree that we need to go so far as to impose a speed limit, I do commend the senator as being one of the first to propose a plan based on consumption rather than passing blame or increasing supply. It's about time everyone start taking responsibility for this problem rather than hope someone else will fix it for them. Now, let's see some increased public transportation and carpooling incentives.
soulcamp said, (176 days ago)
My second tank of gas since starting this netted me 28 MPG - a nearly 22% increase over the EPA estimates for my car, and a 33% increase over what I was getting before. I am definitely sold. In fact, I purchased ScanGauge II, a device that allows me to see my MPG instantaneously as I drive. Hopefully, it will allow me to get into the mid-to-high 30s soon.
Here's a good resource of information for anyone else who is interested in trying some of these techniques:
http://www.gasolinecreditcards.com/ecotrekker/2008/03/04/the-ultimate-guide-to-hypermiling-100-driving-and-car-tips-and-resources/