Quote:
Originally Posted by #SaveTheManuals
@slowmover --
Thanks for the reply. It seemed to include a lot of assumptions and advice based on those assumptions. I'm not going to argue with you on specific points in your reply, but I'll try to summarize the big picture:
We actually don't drive all that much, we already optimize several of the more critical things you brought up (minimizing driving, combining trips, minimizing cold starts, etc.), and our safety record speaks for itself -- zero combined accidents in the past 20+ years. Unless you count the deer that ran out of the woods and crashed into the side of our car at night about 15 years ago. 
Furthermore, the hypermiling stuff is merely a hobby of mine, albeit one that arises due to an innate personality trait of perpetual optimization. I don't really do it for the sake of saving a lot of $$, or reducing carbon. I do it because it's an optimization problem and it really tickles my fancy. As you say, it's frosting. Delicious frosting that adds enjoyment to my life and additional purpose to any occasion where I have to drive.
One specific note: when I said my wife is "focused on other things while driving" -- I'm not referring to distracted driving like looking at her phone, putting on makeup, or something like that. She's just focused on driving and doesn't really get a kick out of optimizing the FE. She's not really interested in creating a perfect scenario with no cars around so she can P&G to her heart's content. That's my bag, not hers. |
Thread title is the biggest assumption. We can go through each choice of word, not just sentence construction.
1). What’s the savings of yours versus hers per annum, per mile? The percentage you save? .04-cpm? Where are your records? The annual fuel budget? Interpolation answers your implied question (I’m better, so . . , )
2). Professional driver training — in a nutshell — is never allowing another vehicle to be ahead, aft or athwart. Entering a highway far back from others; coming to a full stop where a great amount of road surface is evident; never assuming an intersection or blind curve is “safe”. Etc. I literally see no one pay attention any more. The rarity is the surprise. Once or twice per 100k annual miles.
3). Your wife may be taxed by the ordinary, but it’s the habits that are telling. Tire & brake wear are that proof.
4). Space, and awareness. FE falls into place, then.
And, how many places have you lived these past twenty years? (asked rhetorically). Most folks do pretty well in a familiar environment. Changes aren’t to the good, normally.
90% of the same places 90% of the time, is the average. Trip combinations to the minimum required is the only real FE change past zero idle time.
Lack of moving violations or accidents is fine. But it’s a negative indicator, tells little. Not a positive. Vehicle component wear is that measure on an annual basis.
5). What’s the cold start count per week at your house? That’s what you want to track by month.
“Sharing” only means you either want her to drive more as you do (which I doubt leaves safety in first place), or you just lack the record-keeping & testing that reveals the CPM fuel savings (against increased rate of wear). P&G is a bad joke, right?
Not before, or now, does anything your wife do affect your investigation. It’s only the percentage of miles against engine run time that differs.
The savings AREN’T between drivers, per se (past a standard of allowable vehicle use, and a standard of safety while underway).
Your answer is:
Track average MPH. Against number of engine starts (any type).
— Your assumption of “optimization” has to pass the smell test. Statistically-valid safe practice at the wheel, first.
— Second, it won’t be other than a MPH Average, as a difference (after other factors satisfied).
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