Champion hypermiler Gerhard Plattner

[euromodder]

Over 2600km on less than 100 euro worth of CNG

Using a Skoda Citigo CNG - a half-brother to the VW up Ecofuel (and my GasDwarf) - Gerhard Plattner has driven 2619km from Vicenza, IT over the Alps, through 9 countries all the way to Stockholm, SE , merely using 2.39kg CNG / 100 km (NEDC : 2.90kg/100 km) and costing less than 100 euro overall .

Doing it on 100 euro (max) was the challenge - but he still had 9.93 euro in change and enough gas to go another 300km or so ...

Best tank : 2.04kg/100km

All CNG must have been H-Gas (CNG with High caloric value) though, to achieve this kind of numbers.


Looks like I have a long way to go ... even if we account for the lower energy in L-Gas (CNG with Low caloric value).

OTOH ...
I've done 7150 km on 50 euro (CNG and 2 US gal petrol)

Even if only because I'm about 1/3rd into the 500 euro CNG credit that I got from DATS24.be - the leading CNG supplier in Belgium - when I bought the CNG up!

[euromodder]

What I'd more interested in, is HOW he got that low a gas consumption.

But I'm not sure VW / Skoda even want to go there ...

They claim the car wasn't modified, but I'm pretty sure he ran considerably "higher than recommended by Skoda" tyre pressure

[RedDevil]

Originally Posted by kach22i

(about slipstreaming a semi ... )
That's 5-6 car lengths which is a recommended minimum highway speed spacing, right?

I would have thought a much closer distance would be optimal, as drafting.
Drafting (aerodynamics) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia) (link fixed)
This "suction" he talks about must be something different.

I slipsteam semis a lot at a greater distance than GP advices as I apply the 2 seconds rule.
What I find that if I come too close (less than 10 meter) the air becomes very turbulent. That reduces aerodynamic efficiency and increases resistance, so much so that when I leave the car in cruise control mode (which in eco mode responds slow to lowering speeds) makes it lose speed and self corrects the distance.

The benefits from slipstreaming at a distance are small, but noticeable. But low speed is the real winner. Most of all the presence of the semi provides a legit reason to drive slower than the rest of traffic, which is eager to overtake that semi anyway.

Drafting close by would only work if you draft really close, as like on the towhook. Needless to say that is not a safe driving strategy.

[savefuel]

Riding with a higher tire pressure does not count as a vehicle mod. Everybody can run his car at a optimum tire pressure for better fuel economy.
Gerhard Plattner most probably is the world's most experienced longtime hypermiler!

[Mustang Dave]

Originally Posted by RedDevil

...But low speed is the real winner. Most of all the presence of the semi provides a legit reason to drive slower than the rest of traffic, which is eager to overtake that semi anyway....

That is my basic strategy for driving southern California freeways.
Let the other drivers enjoy their rat race. Even if they win, they're still rats.