Fuel Economy, Hypermiling, EcoModding News and Forum - EcoModder.com - View Single Post - Mythbusters Episode Fuel Saving Tips Jun 12 @ 9EST

Flakbadger · 06-15-2013, 09:00 AM

This is by no means perfect, it's just my thoughts and feelings after watching the episode.

By saying a few simple changes will double your mileage then busting it, you are missing the point of hypermiling. While it is true that none of the drivers added 100% to their original MPG, the improvements in MPG stretched 40% to 70% from little more than driving style changes. This is really impressive because none of them are experienced hypermilers—they are doing this without coaching, and without practice. Why?
Because driving style is the largest factor of a vehicle's MPG.
This doesn't mean that eco-driving is limited to driving style. I would say the largest hypermiling tip is the following: don't drive more car than you need. The single largest contribution to my MPG was switching from a 16MPG truck to a 42+MPG car. By doing this, I have increased my fuel economy by about 263%

One of the main points of the show was driving 45 MPH on the freeway. There is a moment where Kari laughs and asks if the chain of cars in her wake is because of how she's driving (here's a hint; YES). If you have a line of cars behind you while driving, you are an idiot, not a hypermiler. Hypermiling is all about compromise; getting the best MPG while not being a nuisance on the road.
Few hypermilers drive 45 MPH on the highway, rather the takeaway from “slowing down on the highway” is that aerodynamic drag is the cube of velocity, and slowing down a bit reduces your drag a lot. Instead of driving 65-75, slow down to 50-60.

By the way, what's with this “not slowing down on corners” business? Conserving momentum is a big part of hypermiling, but driving around corners so fast that your tires squeal is idiotic, unsafe, and a waste of perfectly good tires.

Finally, it should be noted that Tory and Kari drove different vehicles, the Malibu driven by Kari gets significantly less MPG than the Focus driven by Tory, so it's kind of not a wonder Tory got farther based on the control MPG, which was SET IN THE MALIBU AND IS THEREFORE FAULTY DATA.

~Matt

EDIT: P.S. thanks for perpetuating the stereotype that hypermilers are saving gas by being socially awkward and oblivious.

EDIT 2: P.S. thanks for perpetuating the stereotype that hypermilers save gas at the total expense of normality.

06-15-2013, 09:00 AM	#28 (permalink)
Flakbadger Always Too Busy Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Oregon Posts: 566 White Lightning - '17 Nissan Leaf SV Team Leaf 90 day: 159.47 mpg (US) Thanks: 405 Thanked 190 Times in 134 Posts	This is by no means perfect, it's just my thoughts and feelings after watching the episode. By saying a few simple changes will double your mileage then busting it, you are missing the point of hypermiling. While it is true that none of the drivers added 100% to their original MPG, the improvements in MPG stretched 40% to 70% from little more than driving style changes. This is really impressive because none of them are experienced hypermilers—they are doing this without coaching, and without practice. Why? Because driving style is the largest factor of a vehicle's MPG. This doesn't mean that eco-driving is limited to driving style. I would say the largest hypermiling tip is the following: don't drive more car than you need. The single largest contribution to my MPG was switching from a 16MPG truck to a 42+MPG car. By doing this, I have increased my fuel economy by about 263% One of the main points of the show was driving 45 MPH on the freeway. There is a moment where Kari laughs and asks if the chain of cars in her wake is because of how she's driving (here's a hint; YES). If you have a line of cars behind you while driving, you are an idiot, not a hypermiler. Hypermiling is all about compromise; getting the best MPG while not being a nuisance on the road. Few hypermilers drive 45 MPH on the highway, rather the takeaway from “slowing down on the highway” is that aerodynamic drag is the cube of velocity, and slowing down a bit reduces your drag a lot. Instead of driving 65-75, slow down to 50-60. By the way, what's with this “not slowing down on corners” business? Conserving momentum is a big part of hypermiling, but driving around corners so fast that your tires squeal is idiotic, unsafe, and a waste of perfectly good tires. Finally, it should be noted that Tory and Kari drove different vehicles, the Malibu driven by Kari gets significantly less MPG than the Focus driven by Tory, so it's kind of not a wonder Tory got farther based on the control MPG, which was SET IN THE MALIBU AND IS THEREFORE FAULTY DATA. ~Matt EDIT: P.S. thanks for perpetuating the stereotype that hypermilers are saving gas by being socially awkward and oblivious. EDIT 2: P.S. thanks for perpetuating the stereotype that hypermilers save gas at the total expense of normality. __________________ Nissan Leaf driver? Join me in Team Leaf and feel smugly superior about our MPGe Current Car: White Lightning ---------------------------------------------- Retired Car: Betty White Last edited by Flakbadger; 06-15-2013 at 09:17 AM..