This week Zadi introduced us to a website called Ecomodder with 100+ tips to help improve your gas mileage. Changing your driving habits to exceed EPA's gas mileage estimates is called hypermiling. Kind of a cool term isn't it?
With gas prices soaring in the U.S. and other parts of the world, there's a new community of drivers on the web who are committed to getting the most miles possible out of their tanks. They share tips and experiences on sites like CleanMPG and the Hypermilling Forum. Here are a few of my favorite tips:
- Avoid drive thru windows. They lead to excessive idling.
- When combining multiple trips into one journey, go to your farthest destination first, and work your way back. This ensures the vehicle is warmed up as much as possible before subjecting it to multiple starts and stops
- Drive with windows up at higher speeds to minimize aerodynamic drag. Use flow-through ventilation if possible.
- Drive shoeless. Some hardcore hypermilers drive in sock or bare feet so they can modulate the accelerator to the finest degree.
- Don't start the vehicle until you're settled in: seat, seatbelt & mirrors adjusted; passengers settled in as well.
Check out the full list on Ecomodder. Although some of their suggestions are a little too intense for me, it doesn't take much to implement a few new techniques. Every little bit helps, right?
Decomprose said:
Fantastic site! This really appeals to the nerdy scientist in me. And of course to the normal side of me that would rather be spending money on beer than on $4 gas. WTF?
