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Old 08-12-2009, 02:14 AM   #1 (permalink)
superchow
Master of 140 hamsters
 
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Join Date: May 2008
Location: Lacey, WA
Posts: 183

Hamster - '07 Honda Civic EX
90 day: 29.41 mpg (US)

Whooshy Wagon - '04 Volvo V40
90 day: 23.33 mpg (US)

Minotaur - '09 Ford Taurus X SEL
90 day: 19.05 mpg (US)
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12% MPG Improvement from Flying in Formation

Found this article on how airlines could save 12% in fuel by flying airplanes in formation. See article here:

Taking Cues from Birds to Green the Airline Industry | Triple Pundit

Now, I know, cars wouldn't have an extreme "upwash" like airplanes do - but it made me wonder how close you'd have to drive to a car in front of you to get similar improvements. Mercedes' "distronic" cruise control that keeps a constant distance could be modified to draft people closer than anyone would want to do manually.

Just imagine: Special high-speed drafting lanes could emerge for vehicles with this system! Who needs high speed rail, if you can have high speed automobile trains? (And before anyone answers that last one - yes, I know trains are more efficient, bla-bla-bla - t'was more a rhetorical question...)

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