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… The Bus honked at me :D (http://www.cbc.ca/mrl3/8752/news/features/dsouza-savinggas060808.wmv)

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/501/Mike_Sefton_and_his_Golf_TDI.jpgSteven Dsouza - CBC News Toronto - June 9, 2008

Mike Sefton and his 2001 VW Golf TDI

With gasoline costing over $1.35/liter, Canadian’s have even more to gain from Hypermiling! Yet another CleanMPG member helps show some the ropes :) -- Ed.

Many were busy putting up new numbers and they were tough to take for consumers as the price of gas shot up across North America even into record territory in the United States and if you listen to the experts, they are bound to climb even higher this summer and that has many drivers trying out a new way to save money.

Steven Dsouza reports.

Steven Dsouza: It just keeps getting worse. This weekend prices jumped an average seven cents per liter and experts say the increases will likely just keep coming.

Consumer: It’s ridiculous. Especially coming up from Windsor. For coming up for a weekend you spend about a $100 in gas.

Consumer #2: Oh it sucks. It is just crappy. I mean why does it have to go that high that quickly.

Steven Dsouza: It is the same story in the US. Today the average price hit more than four dollars a gallon. An important psychological barrier that many think will entice drivers to change their ways.

Kris Barnier – Canadian Automobile Assn.: The message to drivers is that as long as gas prices are high, there are a lot of things that they can do behaviorally that are going to save them a lot of money on gas.

Steven Dsouza: Mike Sefton is an expert on that. He practices something known as Hypermiling. Squeezing every kilometer he can out of every drop of gas.

Mike Sefton: There are a few techniques that almost anyone can use and it makes a huge difference once you learn them.

Steven Dsouza: Sefton starts with a well tuned car and properly inflated tires. When driving he avoids quick acceleration and hard braking. Maintaining a constant speed. And he coasts up to stops.

Mike Sefton: One of the best techniques is anticipatory driving. So what you want to do is look at traffic and lights around you and see what they are doing at the moment.

Steven Dsouza: Sefton never goes above the speed limit and he has installed a gauge so he knows exactly how much fuel he is using.

Mike Sefton: During that glide I was getting about 200 miles per gallon.

Steven Dsouza: Hypermiling takes a lot of concentration and a lot of patience but the results are worthwhile. Many hypermilers say they can drive an extra 20 or 30 percent farther on a tank of gas and over the course of a year, those savings add up …http://www.cbc.ca/mrl3/8752/news/features/dsouza-savinggas060808.wmv

WOW !!!!

Well done Mike. Congratulations for showing them all "how its done". :D


Cheers;

MSantos

This may be the first time a hypermiling article features someone driving a diesel on a regular basis. :)

bout *********** time someone represented Canada... !!! $1.41 a liter over here heh... I should have filled up before the B.C Carbon tax kick in on June 2nd @@@@! Since my last fill was $1.30/ liter! Boy prices just change by the time you fill your next tank for us hypermilers anyways!

Hi Phil:

___Mike did a terrific job, didn’t he :D

___About the Canadian’s … If it is any consolation, the Canadian’s are more in tune with the goals of Hypermiling than the US is today! I had 4 radio interviews with Canadian Radio stations today and by the back and forth questions, Canada is far in the lead and will probably eventually own the US because we are so slow to adapt :rolleyes:

___You would not happen to speak French and/or live near Vancouver BC, would you? If so, I might be able to throw a little spot light your way ;) Let me know ASAP!

___Good Luck

___Wayne

Heh, the price of gas just reached $1.51 today in Montreal... (that's $5.60us/gal for you US folks...)

Hey, I speak french... Gimme a year (to get some experience under my belt) and we'll see then. I'm guessing the incentive will be great to learn fast... :eek:

Daniel

___About the Canadian’s … If it is any consolation, the Canadian’s are more in tune with the goals of Hypermiling than the US is today!

I agree. On a motorcycle trip to the Gaspe, I noticed in Quebec that there were almost no SUV's or pickup trucks, and quite a few small cars, especially Toyota Echo's, and that was 4 or 5 years ago.

Harry

First of all, I have to say thanks to Wayne for a quick crash course back in December and Manuel (msantos) for passing the reporter my way. This wouldn't have happened without them.

A few random comments on the video and filming process:

The segment turned out quite well in my opinion. The camera guy asked me about drafting and other safety concerns so I was a little worried they would be focusing on those items, but fortunately they did not.

I found it amusing how the moment Steve says to have a well maintained car, you can hear my car's diesel grumble. Hopefully most people who notice the sound will realize it's a TDI.

The bus honking... I'm not actually sure if it was the bus or not. He was quite far behind me when I heard it. The bus was the only other vehicle I could see, so I assumed it was him. There could have been somebody hidden behind the bus, but the camera guy and myself both seemed to find a bus honking at me to be more amusing, so we went with that. :D

One thing I really wanted to do that we didn't get to was go for a drive to demonstrate what hypermiling can achieve when things go well. I practiced a route I showed to Manuel the night before in the mid 80's mpg. Unfortunately, we did not get to do that. My ScanGauge from the video is kind of embarrassing showing mid 40's mpg because of all the stopping, turning around, and multiple takes we did.

Finally, the gas prices that other Canadians are mentioning here are crazy! I never imagined Winnipeg would be among the cheaper places to get gas. My usual station has regular at $1.31/L and diesel at $1.29/L at the moment.

Good Work Mike!
It can be hard to leave the right impression on reporters; they're always looking for the extreme angle. Looks like you steered them in the right direction.

Finally, the gas prices that other Canadians are mentioning here are crazy!


lol nah its nothing :) beer is still more expensive IMO (6 pack local beer is over $12.50)

and don't feel bad, I was on the highway on the right lane and a Smart car had to speed up to cut me in my lane! But hey at least from the way I remember it, Its been awhile since I've seen a middle finger ;)

I'm up for an interview as well! So I"m hoping that goes well when the person contacts me, I'm going to let them know straight and center if its anything uninspiring as the Vancouver sun article they wrote up about me, they can just forget it.

I've turned down a CTV news interview, I doubt CBC would make a difference... even though its more national.

I just don't want to be seen as, "hey if your not careful you might end up like this guy!" news stories. Rather I want to be seen as, "I didn't realize I myself can make that much of a difference, and that's what he's trying to show me!!"

After all hypermiling beats a new/used car payment.


Honestly though I have no idea what the reporter has in store for me when he does contact... although I'd like to do some fun tests, like have the reporter give me a 5spd with a scangauge and he can drive my Prius :)

and don't feel bad, I was on the highway on the right lane and a Smart car had to speed up to cut me in my lane! But hey at least from the way I remember it, Its been awhile since I've seen a middle finger ;)

That was probably his "sweet revenge" being finally able to do it to someone else! :rolleyes:

That would be interesting, the challenge between the reporter in your Prius vs you in a regular 5 speed (with a scangauge)! If this reporter is not up to it, it might be worth trying to find one that would (preferably not a hypermiler himself!) make sure to let him go first! :D

Now is the golden opportunity to take center stage and show alot of people what they can do to make a difference.

Daniel

Mike, very nice job! Don't worry about the average on the gauge -- most people wouldn't know what was showing on the gauge anyway. The main point was the elaboration of some basic principles anyone can use and the fact that you aren't doing it dangerously.

Way to go! :thumbs_up:

Nice Job dude. I hope the US catches up to Canada we suck butt. On the freeway all you see is big trucks and SUVs. Everyone is driving 80 mph while im going 55-60mph and getting yelled out through drivers window but i dont mind im getting great mpgs. ANyway nice job and I would like to see if you could beat out your Prius with a 5 speed

Sounds great Phil, I'm looking forward to seeing it.

SoCalPunk33, I can beat an average Prius driver without much problem. Somebody like diamondlarry who knows what they are doing with their Prius is very tough for me to top.

Today while I was working, a lady stopped me and said she saw me on the news. She said she came here, did some reading around, and found many of the tips to be simple enough to try and mostly common sense. Today on her drive to work she dramatically decreased her brake usage :woot:

That is so cool good for that lady now mabey she will be able to be better her mpgs. How long have you been practicing hypermiling and stuff like that. I ask that cuz i just practically started so im still getting used to it but im loving the results.

I have been attempting to hypermile for about a year, but did not get serious about it until January. I went to a get-together and learned more than I ever did reading. I learn best by seeing and doing, not by reading. I also picked up a ScanGauge in January. If you can get to some sort of hypermiler get-together, I recommend you go. You will learn a lot and meet some great people.

I've turned down a CTV news interview, I doubt CBC would make a difference... even though its more national.

I just don't want to be seen as, "hey if your not careful you might end up like this guy!"

msantos from here took part, along with myself and an unaffiliated hypermiler from Greater Vancouver