[kubark42]

Originally Posted by RobertSmalls

Hmm, produce power until you have enough energy to coast across the finish line, leave the engine off whenever it's not required, cycle the engine off and on to keep the vehicle speed such that the engine speed is at the peak of the efficiency curve. What am I missing?


Aha, here's a clever option. First allow the car to roll backwards in neutral, up the previous hill as far as it will go, then allow it to roll forwards until vehicle speed rises, begins to fall, then reaches the optimum speed for engine efficiency (unless it would never reach that speed, in which case just use the highest forward speed achieved during coasting). Then begin to cycle the engine as above until you have just enough kinetic energy to crest the hill.

So. close. it. hurts. But not quite there yet.