With today's sky-high gas prices, everyone should be trying to economize. But some drivers are using a new, eco-friendly driving technique that involves squeezing every last mile out of a tank of fuel. Welcome to the world of Hypermiling.
Hypermiling is taking off big time all over America, with many drivers achieving 55 miles-per-gallon (mpg) and some hypermiling experts getting over 70 mpg. There are many varying techniques in hypermiling but here are some of the basic ones:
Don't speed: The harder you accelerator, the more fuel you use. It might not suit everyone, but sticking to the speed limit, or a little under, goes a long way to reducing fuel consumption.
Don't idle: Leaving your car to tick over while you sit at the drive through achieves only one thing: zero mpg.
Switch off your air conditioning: Air conditioning increases fuel consumption by around 10 per cent. If you're too hot, wind down your windows - except on motorways and duel carriageways where the increased drag will negate any fuel savings you make.
Don't fill up your tank: A full tank weighs around 12 stone, which is the equivalent of another passenger.
Lose excess weight: Not you, although that's another debate, but your automobile. Remove roof racks, bike racks and unnecessary weight in your trunk, remember that every pound that you carry uses extra gas.
Coast, don't brake: When approaching a junction or a traffic light turning amber, take your foot off the accelerator and let your vehicle slow down on its own. Waiting until the last moment to brake wastes fuel needlessly. Always check that this is safe for you automobile though as some makes rely on the engine for braking!
So, there you are , Hypermiling can gain you significant mileage increases and its completely free to implement. These are only a few of the techniques involved, if you would like to see the full range of techniques that can help you significantly increase gas mileage then there are several good quality guides available online.
No comments:
Post a Comment