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Hypermiling: Techniques to Increase Fuel Economy

By Erick R Williams

Four-dollar-a-gallon gas seems here to stay and five dollars may not be too far off. Oil has more than doubled in the last twelve months ($142/bbl as of July 1, 2008) and is forecast to go even higher. This means that drivers that rarely spent more than $35 to fill up their tanks in the past are suddenly watching the dial on the gas pump continue past $70 in most parts of the country. While drivers have little control over the price of oil or gasoline, they do have a great deal of control over how many miles that they can squeeze out of a gallon of precious fuel.

Hypermiling is a collection of techniques made famous by Wayne Gerdes, founder of the movement and developer of the techniques. These techniques help drivers exceed, or even far exceed, the fuel economy ratings that the manufacturer applies to their vehicle. So, for example, if your family car is rated for, say, 19mpg on the highway, these hypermiling techniques could boost that figure to 30mpg or even higher. It seems like a great way to get a great deal more mileage out of a tank of gas with little effort and no additional cost.

Most of the techniques are easy to do and seem like common sense. Other techniques border on dangerous and are only practiced by the more adventurous hypermilers. Indeed, police authorities in some areas are becoming aware of some of the more extreme techniques (shutting of the engine when going downhill, for example) and informing drivers that these practices are illegal and dangerous.

The techniques are actually quite easy to follow:

Drive the speed limit. This alone will increase fuel economy for all drivers. There is evidence that once a typical passenger car exceeds 65mph, half of the fuel expended is used to fight the air colliding with the vehicle.

Brake less. Avoid use of your breaks except when necessary – don’t ride your brakes. Some hypermilers take this to an extreme and coast through stop signs and even traffic signals to avoid coming to a complete stop. This is illegal and dangerous and not recommended by the groups that promote hypermiling.

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Written by: Erick1958
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