Hypermiling–still a great idea

Update: See the bottom of this post for some information about the recently launched EcoDriving program.

I’ve made no secret of my love for what I call “mild hypermiling”, by which I mean employing just the safer practices. Some of the things people do in their quest for ever more miles/gallon (like drafting behind 18-wheelers) are just plain nuts, so I don’t do them and I definitely recommend that others don’t even consider them. Life is short enough as it is.

This topic is front and center in my attention right now because I will be doing an interview/demonstration of hypermiling for a local news channel (Rochester’s R News) on Monday morning. Assuming all goes well, those of you just dying to see me tooling around in Space Wart, my beloved Scion xA, will be able to watch the video online sometime next week. I promise to let everyone know when it’s available, even if I look hopelessly dorky.

But back on topic–why should you hypermile? I mean, isn’t it work? And isn’t it less fun than driving like a typical American (a.k.a. a bat out of hell on acid)? Honestly, the answers are no and no. Once you give it a try and see that you’re pouring less money into your gas tank and dumping less CO2 and other pollutants into the atmosphere, then it becomes profitable, and it’s even a nice little challenge to make your driving more interesting.[1]

One benefit of hypermiling that almost never gets mentioned is that it makes you a safer driver. If you’re paying more attention to traffic signals and the overall flow of traffic (as you constantly look for all those little opportunities to get from point A to point B with less fuel) and less attention to your iPod, texting, nav system, cell phone, etc., it can only help.[2]

I’ve appended some links below to the US EPA and Ford sites with the details, but these are the techniques I most strongly recommend:

• Accelerate more gently
• Don’t speed
• Remove excess weight from your vehicle
• Coast up to stops whenever you can without causing problems for other drivers
• Keep your car properly maintained (tuned up, tires properly inflated, clean air filters, etc.)
• Find ways to minimize the amount of driving you do (car pooling, combining errands, etc.
• If you have more than one vehicle available, use the most efficient one

(You should employ as many of the tips on the EPA site as possible, of course.)

In case you’re wondering how much oil consumption widespread adoption of mild hypermiling would save the US, the answer is: A lot. The US burns almost exactly 9 million barrels of oil/day in motor fuel (not including airplane fuel and other transportation consumption). Even a paltry 10% reduction in US motor vehicle fuel consumption, definitely a low-ball estimate, would save 900,000 barrels of oil per day, or 328.5 million barrels/year, and reduce the US trade deficit by over $39 billion dollars/year (at the current price of $120/barrel).

If you’re not using these techniques, all of which are painless and most require precisely $0.00 investment, then you have no right to complain about the cost of gasoline or how “no one does anything about global warming” or any of the other whiny things we hear all the time.

EPA: Gas Mileage Tips has links to the next few pages below plus an interesting video on how to save money by driving smarter.

EPA: Driving More Efficiently has the main hypermiling tips, including projected savings.

EPA: Keeping Your Car In Shape tells us about things keeping your car tuned up, properly inflating your tires, etc., with projected savings. It’s funny that whole tire pressure thing hasn’t received more attention from someone high profile, like a presidential candidate. Go figure.

EPA: Planning and Combining Trips

Ford: FORD ECODRIVING TIPS HELP LOWER FUEL COSTS is basically Ford’s press release packaging of the same advice. I’m including it so you can send this link to your friends and relatives who think that Governments Are Evil and Corporations Can Do No Wrong.

Update: Since writing this post, I found out about EcoDriving USA, a web site and program that’s apparently funded by various car companies and the NADA (National Automobile Dealers Association). There’s some good information on the (needlessly Flash-heavy) site, including some how-to downloadables on the Educational Tools page.

[1] I’ve heard numerous reports from people that one of the best tools for getting people to drive smarter is the instantaneous MPG readouts on some hybrids. These gizmos should be mandatory on all vehicles.

[2] I feel obliged to say something incendiary here about the morons who drive on local roads and even highways while combing their hair, applying makeup, changing clothes, reading the newspaper or doing Who Knows What, all of which I’ve seen people do, so I will: Stop it, Stop It, STOP! IT!. You people are freakin’ nuts and should have your licenses permanently suspended for doing such things, even if it doesn’t result in an accident.