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View Full Version : Down to Earth: Hypermiling


Chuck
01-08-2008, 01:56 PM
Jerad Parish shares how he got 110mpg at Hybridfest 2007 and hypermiling in general to local Madison TV station (http://wkow.madison.com/News/index.php?ID=18060)

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/501/Jerad_with_a_gas_can.jpgWKOW Madison – Jan. 8, 2008

Largely positive -- Ed.

We know hybrid gas-electric vehicles by nature get above average gas mileage. It's what attracted Jerad Parish of Madison to purchase a Toyota Prius in 2005. "I've always been interested in high mileage vehicles," said Parish. "My last car was a Geo Metro."

A few months later, Parish's eyes opened up to a set of driving techniques that allows a vehicle to eke out even more miles per gallon. It was something called hypermiling.
By definition, hypermiling is driving more efficiently than the Environmental Protection Agency estimate that's posted on car windows. Parish, however, does far more than just beat the EPA estimate.

In a car advertised to get 45 miles per gallon, he's getting 65 mpg in the winter and more than 80 mpg in the summer.

So he took us on a six mile trip through west Madison to show us how it's done. First and foremost, he said hypermiling is mostly about anticipation. "A lot of it is if you see a red light a quarter-mile, a half-mile up, and you know it's going to be red for a while, then why keep accelerating? Just coast."… http://wkow.madison.com/News/index.php?ID=18060

BailOut
01-08-2008, 02:04 PM
Nice write-up. Go go Jerad! :)

Right Lane Cruiser
01-08-2008, 02:19 PM
Great job, Jerad! The more people who see this as a reasonable and reasoned approach to saving fuel the better. It does not have to be dangerous at all. :)

Chuck
01-08-2008, 02:25 PM
...Other hypermiling bloggers have written about taking cloverleaf freeway exit ramps without braking at high speeds, hoping to keep their momentum, but risking rollovers in the process.
Sorry, but this kind of promotes the myth hypermiling is more dangerous than speeding and the other usual stuff going on the freeways.

The Dallas/Fort Worth area has many suburbs that have plenty of hairpin exit from the small farming community days...have gone 10-15mph in my Insight over what the sign says and never been in danger of a spinout/rollover...In fact, couple of years ago, I did a spinout at 60mph on I35E mocking some one-armed dufus - not a rollover.

Back in 1990, I did 40-45 on a 15mph hairpin exit in my Honda CRX...no rollover, but slide off the road...point is Insight and Prius' are going to have to be going way too fast to rollover.

mparrish
01-08-2008, 02:26 PM
Is there a video? It seems to be a t.v spot? Great job Jerad.

"The car is advertised to get 45mpg". I know this is nit-picky, but the press really should consistently go with a mixed Hwy/City. That's 46. You don't see me comparing Prius city (48) to Hummer city (2). ;)

But at least we are nearly done with the "Prius really gets 45 instead of 60" silliness, as if all other cars didn't have the same downward revision.

xcel
01-08-2008, 02:31 PM
Hi Marc:

___We are hoping to see the TV spot go live tonight although an online view would be just a hope right now.

___As for a Prius getting 60 around town, I always thought it did thanks to you and Jerad among others to numerous to list :D

___Good Luck

___Wayne

koreberg
01-08-2008, 02:33 PM
I had to laugh at all the safety stuff that was thrown in. Real numbers were being prested as to the benefits of hypermiling, but no numbers were presented about the saftey of cloverleaf speeds, or the saftey of slightly over inflating a tire. That article would be a lot better without that misinformation.

laurieaw
01-08-2008, 02:49 PM
ya done us proud, jerad. but hey, they forgot to mention drafting semis :D

i notice their link to a hypermiling site goes to a place where you can buy clothing....wish they could have linked here, but that's small thing.

great interview :)

ericbecky
01-08-2008, 02:57 PM
Too bad they missed linking to cleanmpg.com.

I may need to give the reporter, Carl Agnelly, a call.

EDIT: I spoke to Carl. He said that after the story runs tonight, the video will be added.

locutus
01-08-2008, 03:11 PM
Thanks all. :D I thought it went pretty well. Eric, if you are going to give him a call anyway about the "dead" link (and the absence of another link ;)) can you also mention the 46 combined (new EPA rating, story mentions "45")? The less minor factual errors the better. The TV spot he said should be online after it airs tonight (@10 I think?).

ericbecky
01-08-2008, 03:53 PM
46 combined? I'm not sure what you're getting at?

xcel
01-08-2008, 04:00 PM
Hi Eric:

___The new 08 EPA at 46 mpg combined vs. the stories 45 mpg combined or last years 85 – 07 EPA at 55 is what I believe Jerad was pointing out.

___Good Luck

___Wayne

xcel
01-08-2008, 10:36 PM
Hi Jerad:

___It looks like the Tornadoes in Kenosha and Racine county may have bumped your story from their web site as I do not see it yet? Did it make the evening News tonight or possibly tomorrow maybe?

___Let us know if you were on the tube tonight in any case ;)

___Good Luck

___Wayne

locutus
01-09-2008, 09:31 AM
Hi Jerad:

___It looks like the Tornadoes in Kenosha and Racine county may have bumped your story from their web site as I do not see it yet? Did it make the evening News tonight or possibly tomorrow maybe?

___Let us know if you were on the tube tonight in any case ;)

___Good Luck

___Wayne

I didn't catch it live if it did air, I got home a bit later from my tuesday activities later than usual. The video isn't up yet, so maybe it did get bumped? I'll be checking today frequently. ;)

ericbecky
01-09-2008, 09:49 AM
I saw the story last night at 10.
Carl and his crew put together great footage and shots.
Plenty of Jared discussing his techniques.
Interior and exterior views of him driving.
Also some shots from last year's Hybridfest (http://www.hybridfest.com) MPG Challenge.

locutus
01-09-2008, 12:47 PM
The video is now up. They did a really nice job with it.

Article with video (http://wkow.madison.com/News/index.php?ID=18060)

Right Lane Cruiser
01-09-2008, 01:04 PM
They did indeed! Great footage, Jerad. :)

xcel
01-09-2008, 02:08 PM
Hi Jerad:

___That was fun :D :D :D

___Good Luck

___Wayne

diamondlarry
01-09-2008, 04:27 PM
___As for a Prius getting 60 around town, I always thought it did thanks to you and Jerad among others to numerous to list :D

___Good Luck

___Wayne

60 in town for a Prius? You mean they actually go that low?:D:D

Great work Jerad!

pdk
01-09-2008, 05:17 PM
Ho, fellow centurion!!!

Awesome.



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