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Old 06-03-2008, 09:44 AM   #4 (permalink)
MetroMPG
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Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: 1000 Islands, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 22,527

Blackfly - '98 Geo Metro
Team Metro
Last 3: 70.09 mpg (US)

MPGiata - '90 Mazda Miata
90 day: 54.46 mpg (US)

Even Fancier Metro - '14 Mitsubishi Mirage top spec
90 day: 70.75 mpg (US)

Appliance car Mirage - '14 Mitsubishi Mirage ES (base)
90 day: 62.14 mpg (US)
Thanks: 4,078
Thanked 6,976 Times in 3,612 Posts
Hi rsx -

Yes, you can save fuel by running without an alternator. But you'll use up batteries to do so (you'll ruin your starting battery quickly if you regularly run it down). If it's a financial consideration, you have to do the math to see if it's worth doing.

See AndrewJ's build thread - he's doing it. I've also done lots of alternator-less driving in the summer months (though none yet this year).

Solar panels are prohibitively expensive, and you'd have difficulty mounting enough of them to support your battery - without ruining your car's aerodynamics.
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Project MPGiata! Mods for getting 50+ MPG from a 1990 Miata
Honda mods: Ecomodding my $800 Honda Fit 5-speed beater
Mitsu mods: 70 MPG in my ecomodded, dirt cheap, 3-cylinder Mirage.
Ecodriving test: Manual vs. automatic transmission MPG showdown



EcoModder
has launched a forum for the efficient new Mitsubishi Mirage
www.MetroMPG.com - fuel efficiency info for Geo Metro owners
www.ForkenSwift.com - electric car conversion on a beer budget
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