Relearning to drive from 'hypermiler'
A stock (right from the dealership) hybrid that gets over 90 miles per gallon? A Toyota Prius that receives over 1,200 miles on a single tank of fuel without any mods? How'd these vehicles achieve such miles without technology?
The drivers did it. Called 'hypermilers', these individuals modified their driving habits to maximizing their vehicles' fuel efficiency. Reporter Joshua Zumbrun consulted such individuals to maximize the mileage of his Honda Insight (pictured). He learned from father and son Fons about websites such as GreenHybrid.com where hypermilers obsessively watch their mileage and adapt their driving habits to burn every ounce of fuel. Eventually Zumbrun, after following some of the suggestions, was able to achieve over 75 mpg on one trip in his Insight. EPA estimate for the diminutive hybrid is 57 mpg city, 56 highway.
[Source: Washington Post via Detroit News]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Brett 12:59PM (8/15/2006)
These 'hypermilers' are onto something, and that something is the true mileage potential of a hybrid with a knowledgable driver at the wheel. Unfortunately, from the factory, hybrids come dumbed down. The driver has limited control over the hybrid drive systems, and consequently, resourceful individuals have had to hack and trick hybrids in an attempt to utilize their potential fully. Automakers need to at least give hybrid owners the option of fully controlling the electric portion of the powertrain. I realize that this could introduce warranty and emission certification issues, but I believe that could be gotten around. If you're going downhill, you should be able to tell the car to regen. If you're cruising and want to use the electric powertrain to pass, you should be able to do it. All that is needed is an intuitive control mechanism, everything else is there.
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gregger 1:22PM (8/15/2006)
One point on their tips that might be a bit off: coasting.
Coasting in neutral seems efficient (especially with the engine off... boy that's kinda dumb), but many modern cars actually reduce the fuel delivery to the cylinders during in-gear coasting. In neutral, you are returning to idle, which uses more fuel.
That of course isn't true for a pre-fuel injected car or one without modern engine management.
I heard that on Top Gear's video about hypermiling in a HUGE Audi Diesel A8. I'd link it... but YouTube's down!
TTFN
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Charles S 2:53PM (8/15/2006)
I drive an Insight CVT, so the only control I have over the engine is well-practiced feathering of the pedal. Don't get me wrong, I don't cause traffic jams or anything.
Feathering is really an understanding of how to give just the right amount of gas to get the maximum amount of speed. When one is traveling 55 mph and want to accelerate to 70, one instinctively push the pedal down half way and the car climbs up to 70. Stepping on the pedal harder will get you to 70 faster, but one will end up using up more gas, wasted energy used to overcome wind resistance. If you're in a hurry, that's just how it goes. But if one has time, using the instant-fuel-usage gauge as a guide, you can still get 70 mph, but just using enough gas to get there. After awhile, it's second nature.
Wasted energy during acceleration is probably one of the top reasons why people get poor mileage in a regular car. Hybrids already help reduce fuel usage by applying recaptured energy to boost acceleration, but knowing that "sweet spot" in balancing the right amount of acceleration with just the right amount of gas is what keeps the misers above the rest of the pack. Our Insight CVT has a LMPG of 56.4, which is very good for the CVT crowd.
Coasting in neutral is NOT always more efficient, and for the CVT versions it's pointless to do so. Those who have a Honda hybrid, coasting probably mean something else, and it could also be related to the Honda's lean-burn technology. The first generation Insight 5-speed has this technology, and the first hypermilers who drove on smooth highway traffic often able to consistently trigger lean-burn and thus getting 75+ mpg.
All the various techniques are not exclusive to hybrids, and I have gotten my MINI to achieve a few tanks of 40 mpg in combine hwy/city driving. Today, I continue to get a consistent 35 mpg combined. Hybrids have GREATER potential because of its inherit design, thus able to achieve a higher percentage in gain.
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gregger 4:46PM (8/15/2006)
I have a Civic Hybrid. I drive it "like a car" (I coast a lot anyhow, try too keep the vehicle in motion, but I use the AC) and I get about 39 mpg pretty consistently. Others can get 50 mpg. We get 45 mpg in high altitude, but that's due to wind resestance. Also, we live in a hilly region (sea-level to 2000 ft ascent / descent each day).
So here's my question:
When taking off from a stop, is it better to creep away or to apply the throttle more aggressively?
The answer to me isn't obvious because when you creep away, the battery-assist doesn't engage much at all. More battery (and gas) gets used under more aggresive conditions...
I have a similar question about my turbo car:
On hills, should I keep it at higher revs and lower boost, or keep it in higher gears and higher boost?
I think I should downshift, but my foot goes deeper into the pedal in lower gears, but with lower boost.
Thanks!
TTFN
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Charles S 2:51PM (8/16/2006)
I get better mileage if I creep, rather than stepping on it. But again, I have a CVT. I do not have the same level of control as 5-speed versions.
On the other hand, in order to really get good mileage with the "punch-it" method, you'd really need to have a good control, so that you're not overdoing it, thus wasting gas. Again, it takes A LOT of gas to get just that fraction of a second faster.
Of course, in today's driving environment, it's hard to go slowER. I used to drive like a road-warrior, and I used to get "real world" mileage, too. The big change now is really more of a mental state, rather than any specific technique that gives one the biggest gain in fuel economy.
JUST DON'T BE IN A HURRY, when you get into your car. I use to floor it to work and I get there in 15 minutes. Now I drive speed limit and I still get there in 20. I'm more relaxed, and now I enjoy my radio. On top of all that, I save money on fuel.
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Richard 1:33PM (8/18/2006)
I may not be a "hypermiler" but when I'm not feeling the pressure (or a seeking a rush on some hilly windy backroad in a citiless county) I have gotten 42mpg city/highway(50/50) out of a 2002 saturn SC2 manual. EPA states 36 highway. I discovered the car has a lot of torque below 1700 RPM (in fact the car is designed to shift at about 2200) at 15mph in 5th gear on flat ground the car slowly accelerates to about 30mph without touching the gas pedal.
Also worth noting, My father and I used to pull 44 - 46 out of a 1990 Camry with near 210,000 miles of wear on freeway. So some of these small cars now claiming 36- 40 mpg has been seeming actually rather lackluster to me. Good to know its probably my driving habits!
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philmcneal 8:45PM (8/21/2006)
haha welcome to the world of hypermiling folks. I bet you will call me a bser but thanks to hypermiling, I'm getting 47 mpg on my HONDA CIVIC COUPE 2005 5 SPD in CITY DRIVING :D
I do hardcore things like coast with my engine off and have tire pressures as high as 60 psi in my tires.
Other hypermilers i've known broke the 80 (05 civic hybrid 5spd), and 120 mpg barrier (2001 honda insight 5spd) with their cars and getting more than 1000 miles (HCH) and 1500 mile tanks (Insight).
Now if that isn't hypermiling, I don't know what is. People don't believe the results that these people are getting, but you just give it a shot and wow... you can't believe your driving will never be the same again!
www.cleanmpg.com is the home of the hypermilers by the way... you will certainally find me there.
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