Hypermiling is a dangerous practice in general , especially if the driver is n’t always aware of the road conditions and fence traffic . But the techniques we ’ll discuss on this page are particularly risky because their success depends on being mindful of those conditions … and then entirely flaunt them . As you ’ll find out , some of the most efficacious hypermiling strategies figure out only because the driver on purpose sacrifices controller of the vehicle in ordering to use less gasoline , which should straight off raise a red flag . We ’ll see how these practice can run for some ; but we ’ll also learn why they can be wild to everyone else on the route .
To initiate , there are a lot of variations on coasting , each take its own degree of risk . But it ’s this coast technique that makes up the bulk of a risky hypermiler ’s arsenal . locomotive - off coasting means accomplish an acceptable speed , budge into inert and then killing the locomotive to coast as far as possible with the auto ’s ignition switched off – using only momentum to keep motivate forward . When the car finally slow up to an unacceptable speed , the driver switches the engine on , accelerates step by step until the car reaches the desired speeding and the whole process is begin once again . This pulse - and - glide technique is dangerous for the hypermiling driver and it ’s dangerous for every other driver on the road since trade off the railroad car ’s ignition affects braking , steering and other normal control functions – not to observe the capriciousness of a railroad car that refuses to keep the same speed as surround traffic .
Not enough of a challenge ? Some of the most motivated hypermilersdraftbehind other fomite while the locomotive is switched off . They ’re basically swept along in the lead vehicle ’s tailwind . The big the vehicle in front , the better . Tailgating behind rig - trucks is dangerous even under the good of circumstances ( since it requires sacrificing control to another driver who likely ca n’t see you in the unsighted spot ) , but hypermilers are especially describe to the practice . Regular drafting ( with the engine on ) is a fairly common and much less extreme ( yet still dangerous and still in force ) version of the coasting technique . Some hypermilers claim they ’ve accomplish up to a 40 percentage reduction in fuel usage by simply tucking in close behind another vehicle [ origin : Hypermiler ] . sure as shooting , you could get great mileage coast and drafting behind a semi , but just think how much fuel will be spilled when the total motorcar , including the fuel tank , is wring to bit .
Overinflating tires is another rough-cut strategy that helps hypermilers , because it diminish rolling opposition . How does that do work , on the dot ? Well , tyre inflation specs are designed for optimal middleman between the tyre tread and the route aerofoil – providing enough connection between the two to give the car good traction . If the tyre are underinflated , they ca n’t abide the car ’s free weight and the wheels ca n’t roll correctly . But if the tire are overinflated , less of the tire will tinge the road surface . ride on overinflated tires uses less fuel because less contact between the rubber eraser and the route meansless rolling resistance . Of course , overinflating your auto ’s tire also causes them to wear out very cursorily , greatly increases the chances of a runaway and makes it much harder to keep the machine travel on a straight and good way .
Hypermilers also have a preference for stripping down their cars to the bare lower limit to save weight . Sure , take out the air conditioner if that ’s your thing , and jerk out the backseat bench if you never seem to have any passengers . But some hypermilers take it to the extreme point , removing important guard features like rearview mirror or even the car ’s airbags . manifestly , for the hardcore hypermiler , saving accelerator pedal is a lot more important than maintaining a basic level of comfort – or safety . And even if some modifications fly in the fount of the U.S. Department of Transportation regulation , well , it ’s up to the drivers and their ( hopefully well informed ) passenger to decide to take such hazard . But modification that thin out visibility , awareness and vehicle control incline to impress everyone else on the road , too . Even a simple tool , something as innocuous as a existent - prison term fuel monitor , can try out risky if a hypermiler ca n’t seem to tear his or her eye off from the showing long enough to focus on the road ahead .
The hypermiling community at large has generally condemned these techniques , realize that saving a few gallons of fuel is not deserving imperil the lives of everyone else sharing the road . But there stay a devoted cabal of devouring practitioner out there , too . So if you see a hybrid or other small machine close on the hound of a semi , or drastically losing swiftness on the main road , it ’s probably best to steer clear and let the obvious ( and perhaps oblivious ) hypermiler save fuel in solitude .
Lots More Information
It ’s so enticing to use this space to comment on the ego - righteousness of hypermilers , but it ’s all been said before . rather , I ’m going to reminisce about driving a manual infection , and how coasting in achromatic was a deal of fun . I never had an engine kill substitution ; I do n’t even think I ever voluntarily turned off the locomotive while motor . I was n’t coast to save gun – it just move over me a cockamamy trivial thrill to shift into neutral and let it revolve for a while . The fuel savings could n’t have come close to offsetting how much gas I splurged on while I was cruising around Ithiel Town out of bold tedium . After all , even hypermilers have to get their blood pumping somehow .
