Scan Design Richmond
What Are The Best Hypermiling Hybrid Tactics
Hypermiling hybrid drivers were the first motorists to be truly concerned with how much fuel they were using, how much money they were spending and how their attitudes behind the wheel were affecting their lives. This group of drivers meticulously plan their driving routes, keep their vehicles well-maintained, inflate their tires, driver slower, coast in neutral and use their brakes minimally. While most motorists can only hope to get 42 MPG, hybrid cars are capable of getting up to 100 MPG, making hypermiling driving techniques a bit of an art form.
Serious hybrid owner Jim Kelly of Richmond, Virginia got his Toyota Prius up to 78 miles per gallon, which is considerably higher than the EPA rating of 48 for city and 45 for highway. He says he uses techniques like “pulse and glide” — where he accelerates and coasts for as long as possible before accelerating again. He parks his car facing outward to avoid shifting from reverse to drive, and avoids making left turns whenever possible, so he won’t have to stop and wait for the oncoming traffic to pass. “Stoplights don’t bother me so much, because as I learn my routes and know the lights, if I do it right I may never hit a red light,” Kelly adds. He doesn’t mind being stuck behind slow-moving cargo trucks because it allows him to burn even less fuel by traveling 20 on a 55 mph road.
However, you don’t need a hypermiling hybrid to get excellent MPG. Andrew McGuckin drives an 11-year-old Honda Civic that is rated 33 mpg in the city and 38 on the highway. McGuckin is averaging 57 mils per gallon, which means he’s “using only two-thirds as much gas, or saving $1 per gallon if gas is $3 at the pump,” he says. The biggest surprise to a lot of new hypermilers is that they become more relaxed, more vigilant drivers. “I actually notice probably twice as much out front as I used to,” says McGuckin. “I’m not on the phone, eating, drinking, listening to music or anything else,” he says. “The personal relaxation was a surprise to me. This is time that I already have to spend every day, so why use it to work myself into a frenzy? On my 11-mile commute, I could arrive a minute sooner if I floored the gas all the way, but why?”
Forty-nine-year-old Chuck Thomas of Lewisville, Texas takes his Honda Insight hypermiling hybrid up to 75 MPG, which is 10 more than the Environmental Protection Agency’s estimate for his gas-and-electric vehicle. “I do as little accelerating and braking as possible to get up to speed and maintain it,” he explains. He drives just below the speed limit, sticks to his lane and coasts slowly to red lights, rather than speeding to wait. Whether you’re a hybrid car owner or not, you will find you can improve your MPG by using these hypermiling tips. If you want to see for yourself, you can purchase a Scan Gauge for $170 that will show you exactly how many MPGs you’re getting, as well as how much each trip costs you in fuel.
As a leading expert in the field of anxiety or panic attacks, Beth Kaminski is always on the lookout for ways to treat panic attacks. Visit her site for more information on treating panic disorder and much more.
ScanDesigns Showroom Video Tour