With gas prices steadily on the rise - and very little we can do about it - it's time we considered how to make the gas in our tanks last longer. Because, after all, we're not all going out to buy electric vehicles to replace our fuel-injected toys, now are we? So, instead of ditching your ride in favour of public transportation or a dreaded bicycle (shudder), instead we're going to give you some hypermiler tips that'll keep your fuel levels high, as well as your street cred.
First off, what is hypermiling? It's a term that emerged a few years ago when gas was blissfully inching up to a $1/litre. Ah, those were the days. But those days instilled fear in the hearts of drivers everywhere, and special brand of vehicle owners emerged: hypermilers. This special breed of drivers squeeze as many miles out of a single tank of gas as they can. They use techniques that some may find extreme, others plain old boring. But they are techniques we can all learn from to become more fuel-efficient drivers.
Driving barefoot to better "feel" your throttle; only picking up cargo at higher elevations; pushing your car out of the garage or down a small incline before starting it; and circling a parking lot till you come to a stop in a parking space without using your brakes are all a bit extreme (and are also all valid hypermiler tips), but they aren't the only ways you can save a bit at the pumps.
Here are a few less-extreme (dare I say, cool?) hypermiler tips you can use on a daily basis to keep some extra cash in your pocket:
Don't be afraid to coast: As kids we're always told to drive forward, keep momentum and never stop. We're urged to soldier forward and keep on truckin'. God forbid we sit idly by and coast from destination to destination. Well, this tip means throwing all that childhood advice out the sunroof. If you're heading to a stop light or sign, or down a hill, consider popping your car into neutral and coasting to a stop. It's not hard to do and over time the gas mileage will add up.
Corridor Effect: This is a coined hypermiler technique that involves using your fellow motorists to aid in your quest for better gas mileage. It's not quite drafting (and we'll get to that in a moment), but it is using the flow of traffic to help you along. Basically, if you stick to a group on the highway, you're less likely to encounter wind resistance like you would driving solo. So, stop being antisocial and stick to a pack.
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| Photo: Matthieu Lambert/Auto123.com |
First off, what is hypermiling? It's a term that emerged a few years ago when gas was blissfully inching up to a $1/litre. Ah, those were the days. But those days instilled fear in the hearts of drivers everywhere, and special brand of vehicle owners emerged: hypermilers. This special breed of drivers squeeze as many miles out of a single tank of gas as they can. They use techniques that some may find extreme, others plain old boring. But they are techniques we can all learn from to become more fuel-efficient drivers.
Driving barefoot to better "feel" your throttle; only picking up cargo at higher elevations; pushing your car out of the garage or down a small incline before starting it; and circling a parking lot till you come to a stop in a parking space without using your brakes are all a bit extreme (and are also all valid hypermiler tips), but they aren't the only ways you can save a bit at the pumps.
Here are a few less-extreme (dare I say, cool?) hypermiler tips you can use on a daily basis to keep some extra cash in your pocket:
Don't be afraid to coast: As kids we're always told to drive forward, keep momentum and never stop. We're urged to soldier forward and keep on truckin'. God forbid we sit idly by and coast from destination to destination. Well, this tip means throwing all that childhood advice out the sunroof. If you're heading to a stop light or sign, or down a hill, consider popping your car into neutral and coasting to a stop. It's not hard to do and over time the gas mileage will add up.
Corridor Effect: This is a coined hypermiler technique that involves using your fellow motorists to aid in your quest for better gas mileage. It's not quite drafting (and we'll get to that in a moment), but it is using the flow of traffic to help you along. Basically, if you stick to a group on the highway, you're less likely to encounter wind resistance like you would driving solo. So, stop being antisocial and stick to a pack.
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