A new fad called 'hypermiling'

Reuters via, The Times of India ^ | 2nd May 2008, 0018 hrs IST | Reuters

[Slapshot68]

“and the controversial practice of drafting behind other vehicles on the highway to reduce aerodynamic drag — a practice begun a few years ago by truck drivers.”

Wonderful...that’s what we need, more tailgaters.

[CarrotAndStick]

Ping

[Question Liberal Authority]

"If every vehicle in the US got 25km per litre, we would not import any oil," he said.

I'm sorry, but no American who ever lived actually said that.

[Question Liberal Authority]

Gas prices are a "serious problem," ahead of jobs, and healthcare, according to a poll released by the Kaiser Family Foundation.

Maybe that's because gas prices in the USA actually are high, while unemployment is relatively low and nobody is denied health care.

[Hegewisch Dupa]

lol - very true and good point

[tx_eggman]

"If every vehicle in the US got 25km per litre, we would not import any oil"

I am certain that the former nuclear plant operator from Wadsworth, Illinois (Homer, is that you?) ... actually used the mileage figure "km per litre"

[pnh102]

I keep my engine RPM under 2500 in my 2002 Honda Accord. My city MPG has gone from 23-24 MPG to just under 27 MPG. This literally allows me to squeeze out another round-trip drive to work (50 miles both ways) out of a gas tank.

Since my drive involves mostly back roads and then congested urban streets, I am not driving that fast anyway.

[BallyBill]

I think some people just make **** up and see if anyone will repeat it.

I'll bet this writer tried driving with a foil beret too.

[SIDENET]

Among Thomas' techniques is "pulse and glide" in which he accelerates and then coasts with the engine off until around 24 kph when he kicks the engine back on and accelerates again. "It's the automotive equivalent of skateboarding," he said.

Between this and "drafting" behind semis, it must be a real pleasure to ride with, or drive near this genius.

[CarrotAndStick]

The article is from Reuters, through an Indian newspaper.

I’d suspect they did the conversions for that market.

[pnh102]

(Homer, is that you?)

It could have been Grandpa Simpson ...

"My car gets forty rods to the hogshead, and that's the way I likes it!"

[Sig Sauer P220]

Bad idea. Hypermiling will just lead to hypertension.

[CholeraJoe]

Jamie and Adam busted all of these gas mileage scams on Mythbusters a while back.

[CharlesWayneCT]

You can get most of the effect of this without any closer than is common on our crowded highways.

Most people drive close enough to be drafting, just not behind trucks.

You need to be far enough back that if the truck slams his brakes on, you can do so before you hit him.

[pnh102]

The article is from Reuters, through an Indian newspaper.

So Reuters, once again, is making up stuff. The article should have quoted the person saying "miles per gallon," if such a person actually existed, and then the author of the piece should have written the metric conversion outside of the quotation.

[Slapshot68]

Yeah I think we should leave drafting to the NASCAR pros and not encourage it among American’s moron drivers.

[Paradox]

I’ve been doing this since 1979, albeit not as strictly, but I have always been able to get more mileage out of a car than most. Part of it has been keeping the tires well inflated, also learning how to manage the throttle and brake so as not to waste gas and speed. Its just the way I usually drive. I dont do the more dangerous stuff, like drafting, though.

[Red Badger]

This is not such a “new” idea. We did many of these things back in the 70’s when the Arabs were getting uppity with the oil supplies. Hard as rocks tires will increase mileage, but you’ll pay for that error in worn out suspension parts AND tires! You might even pay with you life if you have a blowout at highway speeds. I used to “draft” big trucks when travelling on the interstate, it does decrease drag, but it INCREASES engine temperatures and wears out oil because the radiator doesn’t get the full air flow. You don’t get something for nothing.......

[pas]

Then they shouldn’t put “” around the text. That signifies the exact words used.