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Why should it be a problem? I have driven a car in traffic here at 65 MPH and 84 MPG.
Heavy congested Interstate traffic from Williamsburg to Hampton Va. The posted speed limit on that route started at 65 MPH and as you get closer to Hampton it drops to 6o, then 55. At the Hampton Roads bridge Tunnel 94,000 cars enter the two lane tunnel in each direction every day. Not much more congestion anywhere in the USA. That's an average of a car less than two seconds apart 24-7.
P&G there and your life expectancy just dropped, period.
I am not against hypermiling, and many here may curse me for saying this, but I truly believe that there is a better solution here right now. Aero is certainly a part of it, in fact a major part, but of equal importance it to maintain the engine operating at best BSFC regardless of vehicle speed, with speeds consistent with traffic flow.
If your situation permits and your overwhelming desire is to minimise fuel use then drive at an average speed of 15-25 MPH. Most cars can get 80 MPG at that speed. The first car I actively hypermiled, a 91 Civic Hatch would do close to 100, as would my 2002 Insight.
Now if you tried that on I64, you would probably be pulled over and cited or assaulted with various objects in very short order.
Hypermiling has made me a much better driver and more efficient, but I share Craig's feelings, which happen to mirror those of Basjoos that I want to drive roads at the speed limit they were designed on which to be driven.
When I picked up my 2011 Honda CBR250R, I drove 860 miles in 18 hours total time, stopped to fill the tank several times, to eat several times, and to buy, load up and haul the bike 430 miles back home. From 11:15AM Wednesday to 5:45 AM Thursday I was on the road, without rest and averaged 70 MPH 90% of the time and 20 MPG, in a 19 year old truck that was originally rated at 19 on the highway on E10 fuel.
When Eisenhower came back from Germany in 1945, he was impressed with the Autobahns and their strategic usefulness. The Interstates were engineered for 70 MPH speeds, when cars were deathtraps.
regards
Mech
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