|
Hypermiling story on CW Arkansas
Hey,
I saw this and couldn't get it posted under "articles" but I thought it was well done. It was on the CW local news.
We all know those common gas-saving techniques, like keeping proper tire pressure and making sure windows are rolled up and air conditioners turned off. But some people take it to the extreme in hopes of saving big.
It's called hypermiling, basically a fancy word for a simple technique. It means getting the most out of each mile you drive while using the least amount of fuel.
You may call Jud Engels obsessed with his gas mileage, but he's not complaining. "It shows we just got 99 miles per gallon," he points out.
Engels set up a fancy computer in his car to complement his very deliberate driving techniques to help him get the most miles per gallon.
But you don't need a special computer in your car to save money at the pump, you may be able to get the best fuel mileage out of your car by doing one thing, controlling your foot on the pedal.
"The harder you press the gas, the more gas you use, says Mechanic Eric Schell of Pep Boys. Moderate stops, moderate acceleration, it all helps," he adds.
That's why Engels picks and chooses where he drives. "I'm trying to select the route that is most level, so I do not have up hills and down hills," Engels says.
He also tries to keep his car in motion. Experts say avoid excessive idling because youre using up gas and going nowhere. "Every time you have to accelerate, you have to go from a dead stop, the extra force your motor is having to take to get into motion," Schell points out.
Engels says he'll continue practicing all of the above. "Sit on the sideline and complain or let's do something about it," he says.
Another hypermiler technique is to reduce the weight in your vehicle, whether that means tools, luggage, even people. For every 100 pounds your car pulls, it could cost you 2 percent of your fuel economy.
Also, if you're approaching a red light, don't speed up and then hit on brakes because youre wasting gas. Just gradually approach the stop light.
This also applies to going down a hill. Your car will go down hill without you having to accelerate, so experts say don't and you'll save gas. Rapid acceleration and heavy breaking can cut out anywhere from 5 to 33 percent of your gas mileage.
|
Hybrid Mode
