Hypermilers complete new Guinness verified World Record at 68.54mpg (US)!

An amazing road trip through adverse conditions nabs a World Record!

[xfloat=right]http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/611/2009_HCH-II.jpg[/xfloat]Sean Welch - CleanMPG - Dec. 04, 2008

November 22nd, 2008 marked the beginning of a historic effort by three highly regarded Hypermilers to break a World Record established just two months prior. Completed September 25th, this record was achieved by Australians John and Helen Taylor in a 2009 VW Jetta 2.0L TDI sponsored by Volkswagen, Shell, and Navman. The Guinness verified record of 58.82mpg (US) set a new standard of efficiency in real world (official) mileage while traversing the country. Could our team of intrepid drivers overtake this lofty number in spite of unpredictable winter conditions?

Not only did they overtake the target mileage, they exceeded it by 11.5% to establish the new record at 68.54mpg (US) in a 2009 Honda Civic Hybrid carrying three people and their luggage through all 48 contiguous states!

A complete list of tank results leading to this astonishing achievement through rain, wind, ice, and snow can be viewed by clicking the graphic below:

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The drivers

Jennie was recently featured in the Austin to Houston FE_Challenge and both the Hypermiling_– Jennie Chen vs. Houston’s KPRC’s Amy Davis News and Local 2 Investigates Extreme Drivers: Amy Davis Reports.

Justin Fons is the co-founder of the Milwaukee Hybrid Group, the largest Hybrid Group in the country. He is an old hand at Group meets!

Justin’s real claim to fame came about as one of the drivers at the Insight Marathon Attempt and the World Fuel Economy Championships this past summer

Wayne Gerdes is Owner, Founder, and Administrator of CleanMPG and famous both for establishing the term "Hypermiling" and for setting numerous fuel economy records, recently featured on CNN and known to many as "King of Hypermilers."


The 48-Contiguous State Fuel Economy World Record Route

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48-Contiguous State FE World Record Route Map



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The Sponsors: Honda and ScanGauge

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The Vehicle: 2009 Honda Civic Hybrid

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The Driving

Wayne, Justin, and Jennie set out for records all the way around. They made the trip in just 7559.8mi, driving at least 15mi in each of the 48 contiguous states on their way to this record. The average distance per tank traveled was an even 840mi and the team used just 9 tanks to complete the journey. Scaling peaks over 7000' above sea level and driving through the worst winter could throw at them, they followed a rigorous documentation regime capturing pictures of every state line crossing and full gas station attendant verification of fueling stops, amounts, and sealing of the fuel tank. Friends offered lodging and sustenance, a Honda dealership hosted a fuel economy meet and greet complete with presentations by Wayne and driving tips/training provided by all three drivers in South Carolina. Regular updates, pictures, and tracking data were provided by Jennie through her iPhone and each team member turned out astonishing segments in the very capable Honda -- many of them substantially higher than the typical driver produces in the best of driving conditions.

A complete account of this effort and its results an be accessed via a collection of links found here.

The trio jubilantly concluded their successful venture in Needles, CA at about 4:00AM Central Time and are now enjoying a well deserved rest.

Congratulations Jennie, Justin, and Wayne!!!

 

Re: Hypermilers complete new Guiness verified World Record at 68.54mpg (US)!

this is just so awesome. is there any way to get this on some national news feeds?:Banane10:

 

Re: Hypermilers complete new Guiness verified World Record at 68.54mpg (US)!

See also this blog entry (commentable!):

http://www.statesman.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/austin/green/index.html

 

Re: Hypermilers complete new Guiness verified World Record at 68.54mpg (US)!

Wow, in poor weather with a petrol engine car too! The prior record was with a diesel car. Shouldn't that be taken into account?

 

Re: Hypermilers complete new Guiness verified World Record at 68.54mpg (US)!

Great job, all!

 

Re: Hypermilers complete new Guiness verified World Record at 68.54mpg (US)!

What a Smashing run guys!! Awesome job!

 

Re: Hypermilers complete new Guiness verified World Record at 68.54mpg (US)!

Yes.

I wonder what Guiness' reasoning is that the car must be brand new?

If this had been Justin's Insight, conservatively they would have broke 90mpg and consumed less than 100 gallons! The downside is the Insight is a two seater.

 

Re: Hypermilers complete new Guiness verified World Record at 68.54mpg (US)!

Left a comment. Congratulations to all, and looking forward to meeting Jennie finally when she gets back to Austin!

 

Re: Hypermilers complete new Guiness verified World Record at 68.54mpg (US)!

Awesome, awesome accomplishment guys. Simply fantastic.

 

The world record holders should seriously consider coming out with a book of hypermiling techniques.

Why not?

Harry

 

Wonderful work by these three! I am absolutely proud of them and their World Record!!

 

I've been lobbying for this....maybe the best way to get it done is to threaten to write one myself.

 

Congrats! The best is now in the west.

 

Supercalifragilisticexpealidocious!

 

A very inspiring accomplishment. I'm sure that when gas prices go back to their Summer'08 levels, the media will suddenly discover this feat and start (all over again) with the interviews and news segments.

 

Well done!

 

Nice, very nice!

 

Way to go guys!!!!


I wonder if the Taylors are aware of this yet.