Have you heard of Hypermiling?

This is off topic, but what the heck. I just saw a news clip on KOMO TV on a driving technique called hypermiling.

After all of the “hype” was over, it boils down to one consciously practicing a bunch of driving techniques that I have known about all along to boost your vehicle’s fuel efficiency. It might work in theory, but in practice it looks like a real hassle to try to do enough to make any long lasting difference in my gas bill. And some of these practices might get you a ticket or even a visit to the morgue.

How does it work? Here is what the TV report highlighted:

• Turn off engine during traffic – Probably OK, but will put extra wear and tear on your starter.
• Coast in neutral – Not a good idea.
• Coast with engine off – Really not a good idea to disable your vehicle’s functionality.
• Drafting — Not a good idea — it’s called tailgating and will get you a big ticket.

Some safer alternatives:

• Maintain your vehicle
• Check tire pressure
• Lighten your weight (your body and your car)
• Drive gently
• Drive slower

What are some other ideas?

The Have you heard of Hypermiling? by Chris Hartzog, unless otherwise expressly stated, is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 United States License.