Hypermiling: How To Get The Most Out of Each Drop of Fuel for Your Car!
Fuel prices are skyrocketing, and it doesn't look like they plan to come down any soon. Adding to that, fossil fuels are forever depleting. There has been a scramble and an extensive search for alternative methods that can help increase mileage and decrease travelling costs altogether. Some environmental enthusiasts are also promoting these ideas as they result in lesser carbon emissions.
'Hypermiling' is a collection of driving techniques (some also call it an art of driving) that result in maximum fuel efficiency, sometimes even exceeding the number stated by the vehicle manufactures. A niche pursuit before, increasing costs are driving many into this 'sport'. Hypermilers estimate that one can save energy—by almost 40%—and reduce emissions, by simply modifying their driving style.
1. Slow Down, Break Less
Contradictory? Not exactly. Gone are the days of channelling your inner racer on the highways, the current times want you to slow down and take it easy. Yes, driving fast and overtaking the slow moving traffic might be thrilling, but it proves to be cumbersome for your engine, eating up more fuel and wearing it out quicker.
Driving slow [by slow I mean a reasonable speed, I wouldn't want you going at 25 kmph on a highway or you might as well get a bullock cart!] won't make a big difference in your travel time, and driving in the highest possible gear makes a huge difference on your mileage. The idea is not to rev your engine much, and shift gears when it comes near the 2500 mark for petrol cars, and 2000 mark for diesel (UK Road Safety suggests that this method alone can help save 15% fuel).
Harsh accelerating or braking are counterproductive too, as they waste large amounts of energy. To save your precious petrol, you would want to keep it as smooth as possible, so gliding to a stop is more efficient than accelerating hard and screeching the brakes at the last moment. If you are alert enough, you can coast your car (take your foot off both pedals and let physics do its job), so as to cruise at a decent speed while creating "free mileage" as your engine rests. This brings us to the next point...
2. Plan Ahead, and Look Ahead!
Channel the Christopher Columbus within you, take out the large paper map and mark and plot the most efficient route for your journey. Don't worry, I am just kidding! Yes, planning a route does help, but you just need to decide which is the more smooth-sailing way, with less stops. Stopping as less as possible lets your car flow easily and use less fuel. Checking your route beforehand to avoid congestion is also recommended. Hypermilers hate stop-start driving, so they tend to be aware of their surroundings and anticipate the road ahead the entire time, letting go of the accelerator long before rather than using the brake.
3. Lose Weight & Maintain
No. I am not asking you to hit the gym or start a diet. Get rid of the extra stuff lying around in the car. The picnic set in the trunk? No, you are never going to use it. The cricket bat, football, badminton racquets, tool boxes and numerous other things? You aren't a mobile sports shop. Removing these kinds of things which you aren't going to need (I hope you won't need a cricket bat for your next business trip, would you?) reduces the car weight, thereby increasing mileage substantially.
A recent study found that for every 45 kg of weight removed, 1% of fuel was saved.
Regular maintenance goes a long way in improving your fuel efficiency. Some prefer thinner oil when trying to maximise their economy, as it require less energy to keep the engine functioning. Also keep an eye on tyre pressures (under-inflated tyres increase fuel consumption by 3%), and stay away from cheap tyres! They might seem pocket-friendly at first but end up costing more than what you would have paid due to increase in fuel consumption.
4. Aerodynamics
Basically, the more streamlined car you have, the more fuel you save. Although you can't go about changing your car's shape, you can take small steps which can make a big impact. For starters: keep your windows closed; DON'T keep anything on the roof rack if it can be kept somewhere else.
While travelling, also remember that Hatchbacks are much more efficient than SUVs, not only do the latter weigh a lot more, they are horrendously un-aerodynamic, becoming true gas-guzzlers.
5. Follow the Rules
Cruising between 80 [± 20] kmph is the most efficient. Travelling at 120 kmph costs you 40% more fuel [oh, and that speed is illegal too].
Generally, all the road signs are put up to make your travel as smooth as possible. If followed methodically, not only will there be lesser congestion on the road, we would reach our destinations early, and also save a ton of fuel and carbon emissions. We are a long way from sticking to them of course, but even baby steps will take you a mile in time.
To recap:
There are so many more techniques [a large part of them controversial as well] but I have collected the most basic and general ones here, that can be practiced in everyday life: [Click the links below to go back to each section]
Try to be in the highest gear possible, and don't rev your engine much.
Don't accelerate or brake hard, try to cruise and glide instead (coasting).
Check the route beforehand and try to use the one with the least stops (even if it is a bit longer).
Try to travel as light as possible, get rid of the extra stuff you aren't going to use.
Keep your car serviced, and regularly check its tyre pressures.
Try to be aerodynamic: keep your windows closed, and try to use the roof rack as less as possible.
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