Journalist looking for ICE hypermilers - West Coast, Midwest

tyjones · #1 10-07-2007, 10:08 AM

Hello,

I'm very impressed by this website, and the detail people pay to driving and equipment, congratulations. Jim Kelly in Richmond, VA suggested I might be able to find a couple of people who hypermile not only in hybrids but in cars with conventional engines as well.

I'm a journalist, formerly on the auto beat in Detroit for Forbes magazine (1998-2000) and the Los Angeles Times (2000-2003). I'm doing a feature story on hypermiling and for geographic balance, I'm looking for a couple of hypermilers in the Midwest and West Coast. In particular I'm interested in those who hypermile in ICE vehicles, your motivations and how you came to hypermling, your techniques (pulse and glide, or beyond?) and the fuel economy, road experience and any attitude changes you've acquired toward driving and toward other drivers.

I'm in Virginia, but would be happy to speak/dialogue at any hour. If you have experience in this area and a bit of time to talk, please do contact me at terriljones@gmail.com.

Thanks and best regards,

Terril Y. Jones
terriljones(at)gmail.com

xcel · #2 10-07-2007, 12:40 PM

Hi Terril:

___We have a few of those guys who would probably speak at length with you including Sean (Right Lane Cruiser), Rick (Mn Focus), Ken (SlowHands), Andrew (PaleMalenesian), John (Johnf514) and Jeff (Psyshack) in no particular order.

___Good Luck

___Wayne

laurieaw · #3 10-07-2007, 05:13 PM

dear sir: during your interview, please refrain from adding anywhere in the article, the statement that we draft and tailgate semis. somehow this comes up just about every time an article about hypermiling comes along.. it seems to get quoted out of context and included even if the person being interviewed doesn't say it. we just don't do it.

thank you from a former victim of "semi drafting reputation".

brick · #4 10-07-2007, 07:44 PM

/\/\Seconded/\/\

Sensationalism seems to be the bread and butter of modern journalists and it's incredibly unfortunate. What we do is perfectly safe and arguably quite a bit more legal than the habits of the average driver.

desdemona · #5 10-08-2007, 12:17 AM

Amen, to this as well. Other chestnuts: there are other "dangerous techniques", hypermilers are dangerous drivers, that they mostly use extreme and unusual methodology, that there is no history to this (might check up on the techniques of our grandparents and old rallies to get low mpg), misinformation, i.e. that FAS involves totally turning off the engine, and that somehow what we are doing is the extreme without considering that some of the aggressive driving of other drivers on the road.

Funny thing, I have heard a radio story on hypermiling. "Don't do it", it warned. Lots of dangerous techniques, of which I think they mentioned a couple, that were misrepresented. Then he proceeded to give a detailed account of how to get better gas mileage-- all sound hypermiling/ecodriving techniques!

--des

Quote:

Originally Posted by brick

/\/\Seconded/\/\

Sensationalism seems to be the bread and butter of modern journalists and it's incredibly unfortunate. What we do is perfectly safe and arguably quite a bit more legal than the habits of the average driver.

JimboK · #6 10-08-2007, 07:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by desdemona

Amen, to this as well. Other chestnuts: there are other "dangerous techniques", hypermilers are dangerous drivers, that they mostly use extreme and unusual methodology ....

Hopefully I "greased the skids" to demonstrate otherwise. During my demo drive with him I first took him through the industrial park that makes up part of my commute. That's a nearly ideal P&G setting for the Prius -- mostly flat, mostly 4 lanes, and light traffic. Granted, some might consider pulsing and gliding between 16 & 28 MPH unusual, at the least, maybe even extreme. But it was safe. And besides, that environment is the exception, for me anyway. I got 99 MPG on that segment.

(The sprint-to-the-red-light-then-slam-the-brakes routine can be considered extreme, but no one in the media ever seems to suggest that. I guess folks consider "extreme" and "common" mutually exclusive terms.)

I then took him on a route that is more the norm: all two lanes, moderately hilly, speed limits ranging from 25 to 40 MPH, and enough traffic to make sustained P&G impractical. Got 83 MPG.

I reinforced throughout in words and actions one of my guiding principles for hypermiling: Be safe, legal, and courteous.

Right Lane Cruiser · #7 10-08-2007, 07:27 AM

Excellent guidelines, Jim.

laurieaw · #8 10-08-2007, 08:07 AM

good job, jim. is it going to be a print interview, or video? and when will it be released?

JimboK · #9 10-08-2007, 08:34 AM

It will be in print, on Edmunds.com. He said he expected it out around 10/20.

tyjones · #10 10-08-2007, 12:46 PM

Wayne / Xcel --

Thanks for your message! I'll try contacting these folks. From the profiles I gather PalMelanesian drives a conventionally powered Civic ...? I can't tell about the others and I haven't been here long enough to know, but look forward to finding out.

Forgive the naive question, but is this Wayne Gerdes? Or perhaps Wayne Mitchell? Both seem legendary in these circles :-)

Thanks,

Terril Jones

Quote:

Originally Posted by xcel

Hi Terril:

___We have a few of those guys who would probably speak at length with you including Sean (Right Lane Cruiser), Rick (Mn Focus), Ken (SlowHands), Andrew (PaleMalenesian), John (Johnf514) and Jeff (Psyshack) in no particular order.

___Good Luck

___Wayne