Any "hypermilers" out there in DU land?

[Vexatious Ape]

Hypermilers are people that exceed the EPA estimated mpg's on their vehicles by altering their driving habits. I started doing this after reading an article about it in Mother Jones a few months ago. Before I started hypermiling, I was getting 43-53 mpg in my Prius. Now I'm getting anywhere from 56-69 mpg. You don't need a hybrid to do this, the guy in the MoJo article got 59mpg in a Honda Accord.
Instead of driving like a maniac I slow it down on the Interstate, 60-75 mph. I brake a lot less when cornering, and glide to red lights. I also creep through residential neighborhoods when nobody's behind me. It's a challenge every time I drive home from work to get at least into the mid 60's in mpg's. It takes a lot of concentration and discipline and it's kind of fun.
I was wondering if anyone else out knows how I can improve on my mpg's--any tips?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypermiler

[IDemo]

1. Turn the vehicle off at stoplights

if you will be idling more than 10 seconds.

[Vexatious Ape]

3. That's a good one for non hybrids. Thanks.

The guy in the MoJo article actually turned off while on the Interstate tailgating big rigs, yikes--he's a nut.

[IDemo]

5. I generally only do this myself if I'm in the through-lane,

with vehicles in the on-coming left turn lane. That way I know it's going to be a bit of a wait.

[bananas]

2. and then there is Granny D...

hypermiling her sneakers...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Granny_D

[Vexatious Ape]

4. Sounds like a interesting women.

[Clark2008]

6. I am!

I have a 2005 Mustang and get, consistantly, 27 mpg (average, inner-city and interstate mileage) out of it.

It's a manual transmission, so, by shifting down instead of always applying the brakes to slow down, by keeping my tires inflated properly, changing the oil every 3,000 miles and, surprisingly, keeping the car clean and free of weighted debris, my gas mileage is phenominal for a 4.0 liter, V-6 engine.

[Vexatious Ape]

8. Thats pretty damn good for a car with such a powerful engine.

[TheFarseer]

7. I do that to an extent

Glide to stop lights, plan ahead so you don't have to hit your brakes hardly ever. Try to just idle forward if you're in traffic and just need to creep forward a bit. That kind of mileage with an Accord is freaking insane!

[Vexatious Ape]

9. Your right.

I forgot to mention that much of hypermiling is to plan ahead, and avoid unnecessary braking.

[IDemo]

10. increase your following distance

to avoid the 'slinky effect' of continual acceleration/deceleration. (Realizing that any significant gap will just be filled in on the freeway).

[Vexatious Ape]

11. That's a good one.

[IDemo]

12. Follow UPS's example

and plan your trips to include more right turns: http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4188/is_20060716/ai_n16540534

[Vexatious Ape]

17. I'll give that one some thought.

[Mika]

13. I can do 100 miles on 3 bananas..

.. on my bike.

I do it almost every weekend.

btw, I ride a bike to work and to do errands.

:hi:

[Vexatious Ape]

14. You beat all.

I wish my job was closer.

[TahitiNut]

15. I have a mileage computer on my LeBaron - tells me MPG constantly.

I make a game out of paying attention to the wind speed and direction and seeing how turning the steering wheel too much lowers the MPG. It's improved my driving style - even though I refuse to go too far in coasting up to lights ... since it would increase traffic congestion. "Going with the flow" and still optimizing gasoline mileage is an exercise in real-time "linear programming" of my driving habits.

[Vexatious Ape]

18. I make a game out this too.

It makes for a lot less boring drive home.

[TahitiNut]

20. I learned long ago ...

... to make the MOST out of trips in the car rather than, like many people, trying to make the LEAST out of it. Life's too damned short to ignore the opportunities to actually enjoy and find ways of getting interested in such road trips - even short ones - when there's so much to be learned. It works really well in being on time, too ... I never pretend that slicing minutes or seconds off some commute has any merit whatsoever.

[sandnsea]

16. Thirty years ago

When I got my driver's license. I call that driving. Never gotten a ticket either.

[TomInTib]

19. I walk everywhere I go in town.

I have a ten-minute walk to a over a dozen restaurants and several great bars in our little Town.

[Vexatious Ape]

23. At one time I lived in downtown Atlanta and could walk

everywhere--shops, bars, bars, bars, and restaurants all close together. Loved it. I ended up moving to the boring ass burbs. It simply cost way to much to buy a home in-town--I was forced out in a way.

[CabalPowered]

21. I think one of the more useful modifications is the brake/regen light

It's available over at prius chat. It's a small light you install on the front driver pillar and will indicate when your brakes are actually being engaged. Having this light, you can better maximize regeneration in deceleration knowing exactly when you've applied too much pressure to the brake pedal. I haven't done it myself but I've been considering it. The install doesn't look too bad.

[Vexatious Ape]

24. I'll look into that, thanks.

[Hersheygirl]

22. Yes, recently I find myself doing it more and more.

Then I laugh to myself when I see others speeding by me, knowing I'm paying a lot less for gas then they are. The other morning, on my way to work I was able to hit all green lights by pacing myself between lights. That felt real good. By the time I got close to my destination, all the idiots that went flying by me, didn't get any further than I did.

[Vexatious Ape]

25. The idiot's will fly by while you're doing your part to

A. pollute less.
B. conserve fuel for future generations.
C. Send less $$$$ to the Middle East. (The Islamic Brotherhood, a fundamentalist movement, was funded by Gulf State oil money)
D. More $$$ in your pocket

[newyawker99]

26. Hi Hersheygirl!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast: