The new automatically hypermiling hybrid can get 200 miles out of one gallon of gas, which is good news to drivers who are used to pain at the pump. However, it's not just owners of hybrid cars that are noticing the benefits of changing their driving habits, with fuel efficiency in mind. "Thoughtful driving techniques can make a difference even in old gas hogs," says Richard Keeler, who hypermiles his 1979 Nissan 280ZX sports car. One of his favorite tricks is "pulsing and gliding," where he'll get going to 70 in a 65, then practice hypermiling coasting until he reaches 65 again. Doing this, he can get up to 18 MPG, which isn't great, but is much better than his gas guzzling vehicle usually gets.
"When I see someone roar past me, I think 'They just used enough gas to last me a week,'" says hypermiler Laurie With. She owns a Honda Civic hypermiling hybrid and drives ever so slowly wherever she goes, as to not waste any precious fuel. In suburban areas, she coasts when she sees a red light and waits an extra second when the lights turn green. When she's on the highway, she sticks behind semi trucks, which block her draft, and trucks along at a slow pace. She'll also plan her travel routes down roads with fewer stops to increase gas mileage.
People serious about saving gas use techniques like "pulse and glide" -- where you accelerate and coast for as long as possible before accelerating again. Parks your car facing outward to avoid shifting from reverse to drive, and avoid making left turns whenever possible, so you won't have to stop and wait for the oncoming traffic to pass. Learn your routes and know the lights; if you do it right you may never hit a red light. And don't complain about being stuck behind slow-moving cargo trucks because this allows you to burn even less fuel by traveling 20 on a 55 mph road.
No one knows hypermiling hybrid tactics better than Clean MPG website founder Wayne Gerdes, who has won multiple awards for his hypermiling excellence. He once took his Honda Insight hybrid on a 40-mile journey and reached an unthinkable 200 miles per gallon fuel economy. Similarly, he took his Prius on a 30-mile trip and reached 127 MPG. Even his 2005 Honda Accord reached 66 MPG and his 2003 Ford Ranger pickup got 85 MPG, even though gasoline mileage was an afterthought during the production of these vehicles! "A top-rated hypermiler will shave about half off the gas bill of a non-hypermiler in the same vehicle," Gerdes explains. He recommends using a Scan Gauge to calculate instant MPG ratings, let drivers know how much a certain trip has cost them in gas and provide video-game-like feedback so drivers can score their personal bests.
Wayne Gerdes, the hypermiling hybrid expert, currently holds the world record for getting 2,250 miles from a single tank (164 MPG). He drove 800 miles from Chicago to New York in his hybrid Toyota Prius in 17 hours and still had a quarter tank of gas left over when he reached his destination. Whether you're driving a hybrid or an old gas guzzler, the experts say the first step to getting better gas mileage is to be aware. Hybrids come with automatic MPG calculators, but regular drivers can buy one for $170 (www.scangauge.com), which will show them in real-time just what a difference their driving habits can make. We can complain all day long that our cars "aren't built efficiently." Or we can accept our role in fuel consumption and do something about it.
"When I see someone roar past me, I think 'They just used enough gas to last me a week,'" says hypermiler Laurie With. She owns a Honda Civic hypermiling hybrid and drives ever so slowly wherever she goes, as to not waste any precious fuel. In suburban areas, she coasts when she sees a red light and waits an extra second when the lights turn green. When she's on the highway, she sticks behind semi trucks, which block her draft, and trucks along at a slow pace. She'll also plan her travel routes down roads with fewer stops to increase gas mileage.
People serious about saving gas use techniques like "pulse and glide" -- where you accelerate and coast for as long as possible before accelerating again. Parks your car facing outward to avoid shifting from reverse to drive, and avoid making left turns whenever possible, so you won't have to stop and wait for the oncoming traffic to pass. Learn your routes and know the lights; if you do it right you may never hit a red light. And don't complain about being stuck behind slow-moving cargo trucks because this allows you to burn even less fuel by traveling 20 on a 55 mph road.
No one knows hypermiling hybrid tactics better than Clean MPG website founder Wayne Gerdes, who has won multiple awards for his hypermiling excellence. He once took his Honda Insight hybrid on a 40-mile journey and reached an unthinkable 200 miles per gallon fuel economy. Similarly, he took his Prius on a 30-mile trip and reached 127 MPG. Even his 2005 Honda Accord reached 66 MPG and his 2003 Ford Ranger pickup got 85 MPG, even though gasoline mileage was an afterthought during the production of these vehicles! "A top-rated hypermiler will shave about half off the gas bill of a non-hypermiler in the same vehicle," Gerdes explains. He recommends using a Scan Gauge to calculate instant MPG ratings, let drivers know how much a certain trip has cost them in gas and provide video-game-like feedback so drivers can score their personal bests.
Wayne Gerdes, the hypermiling hybrid expert, currently holds the world record for getting 2,250 miles from a single tank (164 MPG). He drove 800 miles from Chicago to New York in his hybrid Toyota Prius in 17 hours and still had a quarter tank of gas left over when he reached his destination. Whether you're driving a hybrid or an old gas guzzler, the experts say the first step to getting better gas mileage is to be aware. Hybrids come with automatic MPG calculators, but regular drivers can buy one for $170 (www.scangauge.com), which will show them in real-time just what a difference their driving habits can make. We can complain all day long that our cars "aren't built efficiently." Or we can accept our role in fuel consumption and do something about it.
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There are a variety of ways to save money when you're on a budget, but if you can find a way to improve MPG on your vehicle, it can make a significant impact on your finances. Click here to learn more about how to Save Fuel.
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