Six Amazing Hypermiling Videos
by Sami Grover, Carrboro, NC, USA on 08.22.08
Hypermiling Picked Up By Mainstream Media
High gas prices are not without certain advantages – from fewer traffic deaths to increased mass transit ridership, paying more at the pump can certainly concentrate the mind to seek alternatives. We’ve already noted that hypermiling is getting more popular, and it seems like the mainstream media is beginning to take notice. From this CNN article on curbing aggression behind the wheel to The Guardian’s motoring correspondent’s new found enthusiasm for the “zen-like” experience of hypermiling, each new report brings the concept of hypermiling to a wider audience – an audience that is more-likely-than-not paying closer attention as the prices keep rising. So we thought it might be useful to put together a roundup of hypermilers hitting the headlines. The video above comes to us from NBC Richmond, and shows Jim Kelley, a prominent hypermiler, using his pulse-and-glide technique to achieve 80mpg in a Prius. Click below the fold for more examples from news stations around the country.
Wayne Gerdes - Hypermiler Extraordinaire
CNN interviews Wayne Gerdes, whose arsenal of fuel saving techniques ranges from the typical (planning ahead, combining trips, sticking to the speed limit etc) to the somewhat extreme (Wayne pushes his car to get it rolling before starting the engine).
Dan Bryant - Hypermiling Like Your Grandma
Houston’s KHOU Channel 11 features an interview with Dan Bryant, who, according to his wife, “drives like a grandma” – from coasting wherever possible, to sticking to the speed limit, to insulating under the hood and picking routes that avoid stop signs, Dan manages 79mpg. He even offers free classes to others wanting to learn his techniques. (Interesting to note that this report comes from the days when gas cost $2.89 a gallon!)
John Engles - Hypermiling Doesn't Mean You Have to Hold Up Traffic
CNN features another interview with a hypermiler, this time it’s the turn of John Engles, who has installed aerodynamic hub caps and an internal aerial, and carefully chooses his routes to avoid hills – nice to see he is also courteous about not holding up other traffic.
Howcast - The Ins and Outs of Hypermiling
Moving from the broadcast media to the internet, Howcast offers a how-to of hypermiling techniques, including a sensible distinction between dangerous techniques (drafting trucks or over inflating tires) vs. safe hypermiling, such as installing hood insulation, parking on downhills, keeping the AC off etc.
SAAB Covers the Basics of Better Gas Mileage
And finally Saab’s “automotive 101” series offers a roundup of simple tips for increasing your gas mileage, including checking tire pressures, changing dirty air filters, lightening your load, and slowing down.
More on TreeHugger about Hypermiling and Fuel Efficiency
66 Ways to Save Money on Gasoline
Hypermiler Gets 124mpg in Honda Insight
Hypermiling Becoming More Popular as Gas Prices Increase
Nascar Driver Uses Hypermiling Techniques to Win Race
Hypermiling Couple Gets Two Entries in Guiness Book of Records
Learn Why Maintaining a Constant Speed Saves Gas
Team Achieves 110mpg in Prius
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What really cracks me up is if he was on a bike he could get there faster with zero miles per gallon of fossil fuel.
Hypermiling on six mile trips what is the point? really?
We always see these people driving Prius' and getting fantastic gas mileage. What about some coverage of people driving more 'normal' vehicles, and what they achieve. I drive a 2008 Honda Civic coupe. Not a hybrid. Simply by doing 60 mph, keeping the windows up and driving smoothly I got 50 mpg (US mpg) out of the car on a recent highway trip. It's really quite amazing how much of a difference simply slowing down makes. I appreciate the subtle techniques of these hypermilers, but all things considered going slower seems to be about the best thing you can do.
The Walrus,
My sister drives a Chevy Cobalt, and hypermiled it to over 45mpg (that's 10mpg over EPA).
My mom drives a Honda CRV, and doing nothing more then driving the speed limit and putting it into neutral at stop lights has it up to 29mpg (that 2mpg over EPA).
Once, when my Honda Insight was in the shop, I drove a Chevy Malibu, and hypermiled it to 42.2 mpg (that's 14.2mpg over EPA).
On my Insight, I average 70mpg to the tank, and I'm constantly learning how to improve that.
Brenton
If you're going to be carrying more than what you can carry on a bike, or if it's not safe to ride.