Hypermiling To Save Gas Solar Power
Energy Generation Guide
Hypermiling To Save Gas By Reducing Speed
By James J Dixon
You can shut off your engine while coasting downhill,
drive slightly below the speed limit, duck behind a
semi to draft, or coast to and from stop lights... but
is hypermiling to save gas really safe?
Some auto experts, like University of Hawaii professor
Leon James, would say that hypermiling "can become
a form of aggressive driving." In some cases, he
argues, drivers will go under the speed limit while
driving in the left-hand "fast lane," forcing
others to swerve around them, or they may coast through
stop signs to avoid braking.
"If you were behind someone who’s practicing certain
features of hypermiling, you’d get very annoyed,"
James said. "Hypermiling can be a selfish thing
to do." Even so, carefully using hypermiling driving
techniques has proven to improve the fuel efficiency
of vehicles and cut down on the number of speeders,
which is another bad habit on the roads.
Motorists Placing Themselves In Danger
The goals of hypermiling to save gas are positive
in that they seek to eliminate aggressive driving and
save energy, said AAA VP Marshall L. Doney. However,
he added: "Unfortunately some motorists have taken
their desire to improve fuel economy to extremes with
techniques that put themselves, as well as their fellow
motorists, in danger."
AAA discourages shifting the engine into neutral to
coast downhill, tailgating to minimize draft, rolling
through stop signs to avoid braking/acceleration and
driving at unsafe or erratic speeds -- particularly
on highways.
Unable To React To Changing Traffic Conditions
"These practices can put motorists in a treacherous
situation where they could lose power steering and brakes
or be unable to react to quickly changing traffic conditions,"
Doney said. On the other hand, AAA encourages smooth
braking, easy acceleration, driving at a steady speed,
using cruise control, looking ahead to anticipate traffic
patterns and keeping a car properly maintained.
To do so, motorists are encouraged to keep tires properly
inflated, use the recommended grade of motor oil and
change air filters regularly.
Driving Slower To Use Less Gas
There are many reasons and techniques employed when
hypermiling to save gasoline. Commuter Clark Semmes
said he gets 55 MPG on the highway, even though his
Toyota Prius is only supposed to get 45 MPG. "I
don’t go so slow that it would be annoying," Semmes
clarified.
He added that he does shift into neutral when going
downhill and sneaks behind big trucks to break the draft.
He is motivated to hypermile to save the environment
and "because it’s cool." Goucher College Anthropologist
George Baca maintained his speed of 60 MPG (instead
of speeding up to 75) on a trip to Philadelphia and
used just half a tank of gas, instead of a full tank.
More Drivers Look To Save Gas As Gas Prices Continue
To Rise
His rationale for slowing down was to minimize his
pollution. Fifty-six-year-old motorist Jim Schaffer
saved an eighth of a tank in his Dodge Dakota pickup
just by driving 60 mph instead of 65. "I’m noticing
a difference," Schaffer said, adding that he does
it because of the higher gas prices.
Jake Fisher of Consumer Reports predicts that more
and more drivers will end up seeing the error of their
ways and will amend their habits as gas prices continue
to rise.
Driving At A Moderate Speed Has Biggest Impact On
Fuel Consumption
Their publication recently conducted a series of tests
on hypermiling to save gas techniques and found that
driving at a moderate speed (like 55 instead of 65 or
75) seemed to have the biggest impact on fuel consumption.
For instance, when a Toyota Camry increased its speed
from 55 to 65, the fuel economy dropped from 40 MPG
down to 35. They also recommended keeping tires inflated,
avoiding bursts of acceleration or sudden braking, using
premium fuel and not driving with a cold engine.
About the Author:
James J Dixon has written a number of articles on recycling,
waste management and renewable resources including
Environmental Jobs,
Waste Water,
Disposal Of Plastics.
Look out for new articles as they become available on
this site.
Little Known Electric Car Facts.....
How does green energy sources compare to non-green
resources?
Green energy sources are renewable
whereas non-green are not. A good example is oil. Oil
is not a renewable energy source. It takes millions
of years to make oil. It is a fossil fuel that people
have relied upon far too much and is now reaching critical
levels.
Another difference between green
and non-green resources is how much damage to the environment
they cause. Green resources are environmentally friendly
and do not produce large amounts of pollution. They
may produce some carbon footprints but it is very little.
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