Hypermiling: The Pros and Cons

With the economy being so tough and the need to save on everything increasing, more and more drivers are pushed towards needing to save more on petrol and diesel. The price of these two critical products does not seem to have an end in the hiking of prices. Obviously one would just avoid these costs all together by using public transportation or cycling to work, but really most times these options are not doable. Hypermiling is the process of establishing driving practices that increase your fuel economy and help you reduce your gas mileage. So how do you benefit from hypermiling and how can you save on your fuel economy?

Benefits of hypermiling

hypermiling-savingSaves you money

PRO

  • Reducing your gas and fuel consumption also means that there is a reduction in the general amount of money you pay for gas and fuel every week. Hypermiling allows you to use less fuel and gas while driving around. While you may maintain the same distances, you are used to, the amount you will be paying for gas and fuel will drop significantly and thus saving you a lot of money at the pump in the long run.

CON

  • While hypermiling does save you money, getting into some hybrids and electric automobiles have a higher entry fee to play, this may make sense while gas prices are high, but when they are low (eg: below $2/gal) the realized savings may never appear in the normal lifecycle of auto ownership.

Helps maintain the life of your car

hypermiling-preventive_maintenancePRO

  • As a car owner, the last thing you want is your car looking like scrap metal after using it for only a few months. How your car looks reflects greatly on you. It is therefore your duty to ensure that your car is well maintained. Hypermiling ensures that you practice good driving etiquette. In return, your car’s life is preserved and maintained.

CON

  • While some extreme hypermilers also take care in not driving their car often as part of hypermiling, cars need constant maintenance and use to ensure a properly working machine.

Hypermiling Driving tips

Don’t keep your engine at long periods of idle

Your engine consumes a lot of fuel when you are sitting at the parking lot waiting for someone. In fact, even when you are stuck in traffic and it is really slow, turn off your engine instead of keeping it idle waiting. Keeping idling at a minimum will reduce up to 19% of your general fuel usage.

[perfectpullquote align=”full” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]Accelerating from 0- 30 mph in 3 seconds uses more fuel than accelerating form 0- 30 mph in 6 seconds.[/perfectpullquote]

mmm-gaspedalDo not accelerate too fast

It does not matter how much of a hurry you are in or how much you want to impress people that your car is as fast as those in the movies. Accelerating from 0- 30 mph in 3 seconds uses more fuel than accelerating form 0- 30 mph in 6 seconds. If you really want to economize on your fuel usage, keep your acceleration levels slow and smooth.

Maintain the speed limits

Speed limits were designed not just to keep the roads safe for pedestrians and other drivers, they were also meant to help you maintain the life of your car and save of the amount of fuel you use. Fuel efficiency is gained when you are driving at 30- 90 miles per hour. Once you go beyond 80 mph, you use more fuel.

beverly_hillbilliesDo not overload your vehicle

While a bigger cabin in your car means that you can fit more items, ensure that you are not overloading your car. 100 extra pounds of weight adds your general gas usage by up to 2%. That will mean you incur extra cost in fuel.

 

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