After reading an article on
hypermileing last week, I decided to start a 30 day challenge to change my driving habits for optimum fuel efficiency. I commute 100 miles every day (for Northern Virginia, this is considered a 'moderate' commute), so if this works, I will definitely notice the change in the amount of money leaving my wallet. The gentleman featured in the article claims that he can get 59MPG in a non-hybrid 2005 Honda Accord. I'm not sure if I can beat that, but then again, I am not going to try. Since I began changing my driving habits, I have already noticed an improvement . Before, I was averaging between 28 and 29 miles per gallon in my slightly long-in-the-tooth 2000 Hyundai (203K miles). So far, I have topped off the tank three times, and I am averaging 30-31 MPG. I should probably start keeping an odometer/fuel log to make this more scientific, instead of relying on memory. If I can keep my fuel economy at the higher numbers, I will consider the challenge to be a success.
Anyhow, so far my driving habits have not changed drastilcly. I am accelerating more slowly, and I try to keep my speed around the limit, without being dangerously slow. I do not plan on doing Forced Auto-Stops (killing the engine while moving) or anything like that, just because I happen to like power steering and brakes, and drafting behind semi's is just plain suicidal. I don't plan on using the cruise-control overmuch either because they aren't designed to work very well in hills and mountains, which I have plenty of. I am going to try to remember to shut off the engine rather than idling at traffic lights, although at times, I do forget. I'm not even sure if it is worthwhile if I am only going to idle for 10-15 seconds. The car is well maintained, and my tires are only a few months old (pressurised with Nitrogen), so I shouldn't have to make any mechanical changes to increase milage.
Back when I had a stick-shift I used to idle the engine when I was on a flat straightaway or a slight decline. I'm not going to try that in an automatic- I think there are safety interlocks that keep the transmisson from being taken out of drive while in motion. I would get 40MPG in a stock 89 Ford Escort, although it didn't have enough power for mountain roads. Being good on gas is an admirable quality for a vehicle, but being able to get out of your own way when necessary is useful as well. The brakes left much to be desired which was her downfall...
Anyhow, I am going to start keepin a milage and fuel consumption log, and update here every now and then. If anybody has any tips, tricks, or suggestions, I would appreciate any feedback.