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Old 05-08-2010, 11:54 AM   #23 (permalink)
Artric
Hypermiler Extraordinaire
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Deltona, FL
Posts: 22

Insight - '01 Honda Insight
90 day: 90.11 mpg (US)
Thanks: 1
Thanked 3 Times in 2 Posts
Hey Robert!

I don't actually pulse & glide... at least not how I understand it. I try to accelerate to the speed limit or a little below it as efficiently as possible, then give the minimum to maintain or very slowly lose speed. When I get to a speed that's just too slow, I'll give it gas in 5th and lift up to get to 60MPG with a light assist to bring me back up to the desired speed.

On a hot day, this means I'm cruising at 120MPG or more for most of the trip! I can cruise along on back roads in my city at well over that, up around 150MPG at around a 30MPH rate. Of course, stop lights are then the bane of my existence, as they will wipe away any gains quickly... so it's very important for me to look far into the distance and never come to a complete stop. At minimum, I try to maintain enough speed in autostop so I never have to get into first gear.

Yesterday, I actually scored 111.3MPG on my 75% highway trip home! I actually lost a lot in traffic getting onto the highway, so I could have possibly gotten closer to 115 or 120 otherwise.

The key on the highway is to NOT accelerate uphill, instead to just suck it up, drop below 50MPH and use your hazards when appropriate. You also can't care about the people behind you, and it helps to make fun of them when they pass if they are being ultra-douchebags (like the guy on the cell phone with one hand, and waving his other hand at me instead of holding the steering wheel).

I find more often than not that I get "followers" who for one reason or another who want to go that slow. Yesterday, a guy was eating some fast food and seemed totally fine going this slow. Others are old people who want to join the caravan, and some actually just might want to save gas!

I'm planning a 190ish mile trip tomorrow. If I play my cards right, 120MPG should be no sweat. The problem is... holding all of that up for 3-4 hours! I wonder if I could get 100MPG on cruise...?
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