Hypermiling

[Hitcher]

Are all Americans idiots?

Discuss.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/4505436a19716.html

[Mental Trousers]

Looks like there's going to be a bit of a surge in merkins getting killed.

[onearmedbandit]

Not at all. From what I've been told Waylander is ok.



[edit] - Just been told he's actually Canadian.

[RC1]

[edit] - Just been told he's actually Canadian.

AND THATS OK ??

[GaZBur]

Surely not all - but at least the hypermillers are!

Pumping up your tyres to maximum and then slipstreaming behind other vehicles basically means that everyone you follow to reduce your fuel consumption is capable of out braking you = you crash into the back of them when they hit the anchors!

"Among Thomas' techniques is "pulse and glide" in which he accelerates and then coasts with the engine off until around 15 mph when he kicks the engine back on and accelerates again."
So what would you do if you had to follow this person on the road, and road rage in America is different coz they all got 357 Magnums in the glovebox!

There would be greater fuel savings if you just removed these idiots off the road.

[Mikkel]

It was only a matter of time before the americans started getting environmentally conscious (eh, or financially conscious at least) - no surprise that they go about it in a stupid way.

Anyway, seems to be the done thing around Chch...
At least, if people start drafting my cage, I should be able to get someone to replace my rear bumper for me...

[Edbear]

"Among Thomas' techniques is "pulse and glide" in which he accelerates and then coasts with the engine off until around 15 mph when he kicks the engine back on and accelerates again"

Isn't that what happens on the Auckland motorways now..?

[MisterD]

Isn't that what happens on the Auckland motorways now..?

No, that's the "mash the accelerator then mash the brake" technique.

[Hitcher]

The extent of the inanity prevalent in this article is a belief that if all Americans adopted this practice, then that country wouldn't have to import any oil.

[jrandom]

"Wayne Gerdes, a former nuclear plant operator from Wadsworth, Illinois, and the originator of hypermiling, said he twice as much mileage out of his Ford Ranger pickup truck using the system."

Yes, that's right, out of his Ford Ranger pickup truck.



Of course, driving and riding with a view to fuel efficiency is never a bad idea. On Betty, I get 330km from 20L at 'highway cruising' pace, and 160km from 20L at trackdays.

[jrandom]

The extent of the inanity prevalent in this article is a belief that if all Americans adopted this practice, then that country wouldn't have to import any oil.

He didn't say "if all Americans adopted this practice". He said "if all vehicles on American roads got 45mpg". Precision in debate, please!

And I wouldn't be too hasty to condemn that as complete bollocks:

[Grub]

Wayne Gerdes, a former nuclear plant operator from Wadsworth, Illinois, and the originator of hypermiling, said he twice as much mileage out of his Ford Ranger pickup truck using the system

Well if Wanye baby (and the rest of his country's persons) drove a sensible vehicle and not a 4 litre 4WD monster that probably never goes off road, then they wouldn't need to import oil anyway!

EPA Figures ....
Ford Ranger 4WD truck 4.0L, 5-Sp Auto: 5.3Km/L (15mpg) city and 6.8km/L (19mpg) highway

Honda Accord 2.4L, 5-Sp Auto: 8.5Km/L (24 mpg) city | 11.7Km/L (33 mpg) highway

Honda Civic 1.5L, 5-Sp Man: 9.2Km/L (26mpg) city and 12.0Km/L (34mpg) Highway

Grub's CBR600F 0.6L, 6-Sp Man: 18.4Km/L city and 20.69Km/L highway

So a manual Civic would halve Wayne's gas consumption ... and that's before we start talking about the cool-bike option

[scumdog]

No, that's the "mash the accelerator then mash the brake" technique.

True - and how often do you see somebody gun it away from the lights only to end up standing on the brakes at the next set??

[Grub]

True - and how often do you see somebody gun it away from the lights only to end up standing on the brakes at the next set??

Usually when there's a motorbike there ...

[Ixion]

"nuclear plant operator" ? Hm, some other dude had a job like that. can't remember who.

Seriously, in my youff, most people were much more concerned about fuel economy than they are now. Nowdays, relative to incomes petrol is still VERY cheap. Back then there were even competions, like the big US Mobilgas Economy Runs. Doing well in the economy runs could make or break a Dertoit manufactures sales. The results (and progress reports) were headline news.

And the technizues mentioned were part of the repotoire of the professional drivers in the competitions.

Maybe when petrol hits $3 we'll see people demanding better economy .