Hypermiling through Canada: The final push through the Rockies
 

Lorraine Sommerfeld hypermiled her way across Canada: her aim was to drive across the country on six tanks of fuel or less.

Lorraine Sommerfeld - THEGLOBEANDMAIL - Jun 25 2012

Sounds like a fun trip! Curious to see the final results --Ed.

First, some corrections. Day Seven, Toronto to Wawa, was a distance of 868 km.

And Day Eight, Wawa to Winnipeg, was 1,167 km. We’re not time travellers, and we didn’t get to Medicine Hat until the end of Day Nine, logging 1,023 km. Wonky WiFi at several places has been frustrating, and you know your nerves are shot when a blog disappears in front of your eyes at midnight, and you cry.

Those errors on my part actually remind me that we are sometimes driving too long each day. There has been a big adjustment in reading an itinerary. Generally, I see an 800 km drive day, and I calculate that in my head as eight hours. But the goal of attaining the best fuel efficiency means some compromises, and it also means it takes longer. Depending on weather conditions, road conditions and the driver, it can take a lot longer.

Day Ten was 296 km. Medicine Hat to Calgary. A short drive day that was very welcome.

Day Eleven was 975 km. Calgary to Chilliwack, B.C.

Our final big driving day began in Calgary. Alex Debogorski is our morning drive man. By now, we’ve settled into our roles. Different drivers have joined us at different points on the journey. For Debogorski and me, the only two driving steadily from Halifax to Vancouver, it’s nice to get out from behind the wheel. But a funny thing happens on the way to a nap in the back seat of a support vehicle; you worry who might be messing up ‘your’ numbers. Debogorski’s years as an ice road trucker means he’s accustomed to long, solo hauls. The idea of teamwork is something the Taylors have long advocated; when they’ve had people, companies, and communities join in and adopt efficient, safe driving methods, their results have left a legacy. Debogorski and I still trade stories that reveal a bit of the wheel hog in both of us.... [Read More]

Re: Hypermiling through Canada: The final push through the Rockies
 

Hi Mike:

They made it but I did not see any final figures other than t# of tanks and average distance?

And how did this lady writer equip hypermiling with drafting semi's or driving illegally as "efficiency hounds" do. She needed to be told that Hypermiling means besting the EPA and in doing so, she'd probably be the only legal driver on the road. A far cry from what it sounds like her normal driving habits?

I should not get so pissed off at these types of stories… At least they were punching out almost 838 mile tanks in the AT equipped Passat TDI and possibly as much as 45 mpgUS? That seems way to low?

Wayne

Re: Hypermiling through Canada: The final push through the Rockies
 

It seems like all or at least most of these drivers on this expedition just heard the term "hypermiler" yesterday , and today........... they are one. 45 mpg ? Jeez.