Are Hypermilers a menace on the road?
Since the advent of the hybrid at the turn of this century, an increasingly large group of hardcore fanatics have taken up hypermiling. For the uninitiated, hypermiling is the practice of using modified driving techniques to get the maximum possible fuel efficiency. There are hypermilers who claim to get over 100mpg from their Priuses and Insights. The problem is that techniques like pulse and glide involve significant fluctuations in speed. By accelerating quickly and then coasting for long periods using regenerative braking to recharge the battery as much as possible and then repeating ad nauseum, they minimize the load on the engine. This is fine when a vehicle is driving in little or no traffic. Unfortunately, when there are other cars around, an extreme hypermiler can pose a real impediment. Differences in speed are often a source of accidents and people who aren't driving hybrids won't want to be stuck behind someone coasting along. There is nothing wrong with trying to maximize fuel efficiency and everyone should be trying to drive efficiently. However, even hypermilers need to be cognizant of other drivers around them and avoid being obstructive.
[Source: Consumer Reports]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
MikeW 10:18AM (5/07/2008)
They better not pass the buck, otherwise someone will introduce them to BrakeAssist.
Reply
Mike Z 10:20AM (5/07/2008)
Amen!:
My biggest mpg boosting practice is using cruse control when driving, but hyper milers really ruin that.
Reply
Tim 10:40AM (5/07/2008)
Going too slow is more dangerous to other drivers than going too fast. It forces others to pass which can be dangerous on 2 lane roads. Not staying within 5-mph of the posted speed limit is extremely selfish. Too fast and you waste gas, too slow and you cause a crash.
Reply
Karkus 11:00AM (5/07/2008)
Sure, hypermiling in heavy traffic is going to piss poeple off, and most hypermilers take that into account.
It's the same thing as speeding. If you do it on an open road, it's probably not a big deal, but in traffic it is dangerous.
However, your description of the pulse and glide technique is incorrect.
"coasting for long periods using regenerative braking to recharge the battery as much as possible" is False.
Although it seems counterintuitive, the point is to use the battery as little as possible! Accelerate moderately (trying NOT to use the battery) and then coast WITHOUT using regenerative breaking.
http://www.ehow.com/how_2093197_pulse-glide-toyota-prius.html
Reply
Dan 11:03AM (5/07/2008)
One of my buddies does this in his Prius. It's really not as obstrusive or annoying as you might think.
I've known people (and this annoys me to no end) who either have to be pressing the gas pedal or pressing the brake... there is no "in between" or such thing as "coasting." This method of driving I find way worse than anything these greenies do.
Let them be... we're really picking on them for lame reasons. Grandma/Auntie G/your sister/(insert name here) is far more annoying to be tailgating on the highway than a hypermiler.
Reply
rj 11:18AM (5/07/2008)
I just drive a Corolla - but I try to drive conservatively - It just involves looking ahead and planning a bit. The typical frustration I have is when somebody behind me get impatient because I am coasting towards a red light rather than zipping up to it. Basically I try not to overuse my brakes.
I wouldn't call it hypermiling but I think it's the way everybody should drive. I also adjust my driving to something less efficient when it becomes clear that I am annoying the guys who are in a rush to wear down their brake pads.
Reply
Chris 11:19AM (5/07/2008)
That's about the only thing a hybrid owner can brag about. They certainly can't brag about styling or performance. I guess we should be thankful for those who buy these heinous cars now so that someday there might actually be "cool" hybrid vehicles that makes sense buying.
Reply
Rob 11:44AM (5/07/2008)
My limited experience with hypermilers is that they are actually more cognizant of other drivers around them. They don't talk on there cell phones or fiddle with the radio, they are concentrating on the road ahead of them. Similar to the speeders in that regard, because they need to figure out how they are going to pass the next car ahead of them.
The dangerous people are the ones who are not paying attention to the road or anything else around them. The ones who are in the left lane of a multi-lane road when they aren't passing anyone or don't use their signal when they turn or change lanes.
I'm sure some hypermilers are obstructive, but most of them are doing the speed limit, which would be good for all of us to try.
Reply
dodgeviper88 12:13PM (5/07/2008)
I think people in general don't know how much it takes to be a hypermiller. One has to really be alert on the road at all times and be able to estimate the traffic ahead of them in order to avoid having to slow down (using brakes). I think people should learn from hypermillers to at least drive properly. I've tried coasting once to a stoplight and this big SUV behind me honked at me being how slow and later overtake me as fast as he could only to brake at a screeching halt at the stoplight.
Reply
Charles S 12:29PM (5/07/2008)
There's no point in arguing about it. The way I see it, hypermiling or not, sensible driving behavior is considered a negative thing anyways.
People who think others drive "slow" on the road are likely in the category that hate everything about hybrids and hypermilers. There are so many bad behavior on the road today, pretty much obeying the speed limit is considered poor driving.
Hypermilers are generally good drivers, and maybe some will be convince by reading the comments here. However, once people get on the road, old habits will die hard. Those who like to go 10 above speed limit will still do it. Those who drive gas-guzzlers could save more gas by easing on the gas, and most will not do it, because driving is partly subconscious and body sensitive.
One has to have some good will-power to change the bad habits and for that, hypermilers deserve to have a pat on the back.
Reply
Mike Z 12:42PM (5/07/2008)
I recall once instance of a hypermiller who was going 50 mph in a 70mph area. (He had a big sign in the back window saying 'PASS ME!'
Now I'm not a aggressive driver, but I keep up with the flow of traffic which was about 75 mph.
Now think of all the gas wasted on everyone having to rev their engines to pass him.
Also as a side not, I've never met a female hypermiler.
Reply
virgil 12:45PM (5/07/2008)
The way I see it, if you're in a regular car, say one that gets 30mpg, then by all means take a few steps to save on gas (like inflating your tires, and maybe coasting a bit). If you're in a 20MPG car or truck forget it - just buy a car with better mileage. If you're already in a prius you really don't NEED to save more gas (unless you're trying to prove something, in which case you're an idiot), so just lighten up and go with the flow of traffic without annoying those who are trying to get somewhere faster than you.
Reply
Yggdrasilly 12:51PM (5/07/2008)
Hypermiling, like honest speech, is a good thing generally--but inappropriate in certain situations ("Honey, does this dress make me look fat?").
Reply
Mh 1:05PM (5/07/2008)
Some things such as "shutting off the engine and coast" as described by some hypermilers strike me as a bit over-the-top to put it kindly. I just found this article yesterday about a person who gets 59mpg with his Honda Accord.
http://www.motherjones.com/news/feature/2007/01/king_of_the_hypermilers.html
Reply
Lou Grinzo 1:41PM (5/07/2008)
I think we have to distinguish between the "full tilt boogie" level of hypermiling and the "mild hypermilers". I'm in the latter category. I keep my car in top shape, obey the speed limit, accelerate gently, and coast up to stops when I can do so without annoying other drivers (or my wife). I don't get the astounding MPG numbers that people brag about online, but my Scion xA, which would be rated by the new EPA figures at around 32/36 MPG delivers a steady 40 MPG with these "mild" techniques.
I also am convinced that people who drive that way really are much safer on the public roads. I'm constantly watching not just lights and overall traffic flow, but the positioning of every car so I can find little opportunities to coast. It's much easier than it sounds, I get more MPG, put less wear and tear on my car (especially the brakes), and I don't bother anyone else.
Reply
Rick 2:54PM (5/07/2008)
I think if everyone realized that everything they do affects everyone else, the world would be a better place.
Reply
obviously 4:01PM (5/07/2008)
The sad thing is that most people are in a gas habit. And when you ask people to change a habit even though it might benefit the world in a different way they yelp and whine like little bafoons. I've seen people press on 35 mph for a mere 20 meters to get to the stoplight FASTER. How ridiculous is that? It's a RED light. If gliding until you reach the stoplight is such a pain then people shouldn't drive or change your attitude.
The time has come to move on and people are so stagnantly stuck on their gas habits. Kick the habit.
Reply
Dave 3:39PM (5/07/2008)
BREAKING NEWS - Are Gas Guzzlers a menace on the road?
Since the advent of the gasoline engine, an increasingly large group of hard core fanatics have taken up gas guzzling. For the uninitiated, gas guzzling is the practice of using aggressive driving techniques with absolute no regard to fuel consumption.
There are gas guzzlers who claim to get less than 10 mpg from their H2s and Expeditions.
The problem is that these techniques like full throttle acceleration and hard braking involve significant flucutations in speed.
By accelerating hard and then braking hard, they maximize fuel consumption and brake wear.
This is fine when a vehicle is driving in little or no traffic. Unfortunately, where there are other non gas guzzlers around, an extreme gas guzzler can tailgate and pollute up to 5 times more than others on the road.
Differences in speed are often a source of accidents and people who aren't driving gas guzzlers don't want to be stuck in front of one riding their ass, honking their horn and flashing their high beams while weaving all over the road trying to get to their destination 5 seconds faster.
There is nothing wrong with gas guzzling - after all, it's a free country - everyone should be consuming as many resources as possible.
However, even gas guzzlers need to be cognizant of other drivers around them and avoid being impatient when the other vehicle is unable to move out of it's own way.
Reply
Karkus 5:11PM (5/07/2008)
Dave - that's an awesome reply!
Isn't it strange how on ABG, a supposedly "green" blog, it is more common to see bloggers attack green technology/practice than it is for them to criticize gas guzzling ?
Perhaps the should rename it "Auto Blog Why your green technology really isn't and mine is the magic bullet"
It's time to stop the infighting! We're doing more harm to the green car movement here than any conservative think tank.
Reply
KWJ 8:03PM (5/07/2008)
I find it a humorous fallacy that speeders use to deflect blame away from their obvious low skill set. One that occurs above, points out a true statement, that extreme speed differences can create situations that the low skill set driver cannot negotiate. But they always say the "problem" is the person driving slow. Wake up, we "share" the roads, and the person driving at the speed limit is not the problem. That person is obeying the laws written specifically so we can better "share" the highways. The real problem child is the anarchist that choses which laws to break, and then by how much. Of course what's appropriate for you may not be appropriate for the idiot who wishes to do 15, 20 or more, miles per hour above the limit. It's time these children grow up and make my drive a bit less dangerous. They are a pretty self-centered lot. Oh yes, hypermiling, well they typically are doing at or legally below the speed limits. They are acutely aware of traffic both ahead and behind. They are checking their mirrors at least as often as the recommended 8 seconds. They are not "in anyone's way" on a single lane road because they understand how speed changes can affect other's in any kind of traffic (even a single car behind them). They will speed up to the limit (if they were below it to begin with). Please note that the speed limit is "slow" to any speeder's worldview. Most will not Pulse and Glide when cars are behind them. They will wait for a downhill to coast at the limit. In fact, if you were to pull up behind a Hypermiler, you would be hard pressed to pick them out of any group of law abiding citizens. They will coast slow to a traffic signal that is red, in hopes it will change to green before they have to stop. What's the harm there? If they finally have to stop, so would those behind them. If the light changes to green (get it, "green") then everyone benefits by their behavior. It's win/win, and everyone saves. But the speed crowd gets so impatient that they put the pedal to the metal and roar around such an "inconsiderate" driver, pulling back in front of them and of course must slam on their brakes for the red light. Then here comes the Hypermiler, coasting up just as the light goes "green" (isn't that a picture of green?) and accelerates through without having to waste gas any more than they have to. Again, and I stress this strongly, at no time did their "transgression" pose any problem for anyone behind them. It's time the whiners took a good look at why they get so incensed by responsible drivers. Perhaps they need professional care and a lobotomy, but they really should learn to deal with it, or walk.
Reply