Hypermiling is a clever way to save on fuel costs by up to 70 percent. It’s all about using smart driving tricks and tips.
This idea became popular in the early 2000s when fuel prices began to rise in the USA.
In fact, the term “hypermiling” even made it into the Oxford English Dictionary in 2008. In 2013, TV scientists from Mythbusters tested these techniques.
READ MORE: Drivers advised hypermiling car could improve fuel economy by up to 40 percent
They found that the best they could do was increase fuel efficiency by 70 percent.
But remember, safety first. The UK website Hypermiler warns: “Hypermiling, as with any other form of driving technique, can be dangerous if used on the wrong road and in unsuitable traffic conditions. Please always be aware of other road users and do not endanger yourself or others for the sake of saving a few miles per gallon.”
Some simple tips to increase fuel efficiency include keeping your car in good shape, removing unnecessary weight, and making sure your tyre pressure is correct.
The site shares top tips for hypermiling, including avoiding driving where possible – walking or cycling uses no fuel and is better for you. It also suggests that short journeys use more fuel per mile than longer ones.
The site advises to anticipate the road ahead, leaving plenty of space between you and the car in front, so you can avoid unnecessary acceleration and braking – which both burn through fuel.
It’s suggested that reducing your speed by 20mph will increase your MPG by up to 45 percent. The site also recommends taking your foot off the accelerator, coasting, when you approach lights or a junction as this will see your car use no fuel.
Other tips on the site include keeping windows up at all times to reduce drag, keeping the air-conditioning off, removing unused bike and roof racks and never driving in big shoes.
The site says: “Don’t drive in big shoes, they take away the sensitivity you need with the throttle. The best way to Hypermile is to feel how the car is responding to your right foot. Two inches of sole doesn’t help.”
WikiHow also advises you avoid idling – turn off the engine when you are stopped.
The Mythbusters tried various tips to save fuel, such as driving slower, accelerating and braking smoothly, coasting to red lights, not using air conditioning, over inflating tyres (which isn’t safe), removing a wing mirror, adding an aerodynamic skin to the car and drafting – a risky technique of reducing wind resistance by driving behind another vehicle.
They found that an older vehicle improved efficiency by 40 percent and a newer one by 70 percent.
