The cost of hypermiling

[PA32R]

Originally Posted by IndyIan

I have to disagree with your equation though, as I am not anywhere near a millionaire...

Clearly you still know too much. Think "Bill Gates...."

[roflwaffle]

Originally Posted by PA32R

or working on a proof for the Riemann hypothesis, or......

Trying anyway.

[elhigh]

I think the argument that your time is worth more than the fuel is fallacious. The simple fact is, unless you've got some incredible pay package, you've never been paid for your commuting time. That's your time. Time you earn money for doesn't start until you arrive at work, and ends when you leave. You want the job where it is, then driving that distance, spending that time is your choice. How you spend it is up to you. There is no money involved - just the money you burn, and the time in which you do it.

[PA32R]

Originally Posted by elhigh

I think the argument that your time is worth more than the fuel is fallacious. The simple fact is, unless you've got some incredible pay package, you've never been paid for your commuting time. That's your time. Time you earn money for doesn't start until you arrive at work, and ends when you leave. You want the job where it is, then driving that distance, spending that time is your choice. How you spend it is up to you. There is no money involved - just the money you burn, and the time in which you do it.

In a way, you're right. It's not possible to come up with a precise conversion factor for time to money, except if you're paid hourly. I'm on salary and my tasks are delineated, not my time. That being said, it's based on a certain amount per year and an assumed amount of hours. So, that is the only proxy I have with which to work. That amount is sufficient to cause me to stop doing stuff I enjoy on my own time, leave my family and set off to work. So, in a sense, it's how I value my time.

[jeremy85]

DRIVE FAST, TAKE CHANCES!!!HA

[NoCO2]

I guess it's different for you since you're on salary (I'm still paid by the hour that I'm there) but I know for me, I would much rather go to bed, say, 1 hour earlier and wake up a little earlier to save 10MPG on my commute to work and spend a little longer getting there because, while I'm saving at least 160miles of gas per tank, the rest of those people rushing are doing what....sleeping....great, I can sleep at another time, I'll save my money now...

(sorry hope that made sense, I couldn't really put that idea down as clearly as I wanted to)

[Twerp]

In 2001, when I was finishing up college, I had to take one final course to graduate. The only way I could take it during summer term was by commuting to another college. I believe it was an hour and fifteen each way, four or five days per week. I didn't have a job and I had very little in the bank. The gas was definitely worth more than my time. I had a 95 Jetta GLS which typically got around 25 to 28mpg for me. I had to take an extra 15 to 20 minutes each day and drive with the AC off, and the windows and sunroof barely cracked to maximize my gas money. If I just pretended that I was relaxing in a moving sauna, it wasn't that bad (the sweat would dry eventually and my deoderant was effective ). The thing I realized was that if I had 15 extra minutes each day, it would be nice to spend them sitting and relaxing in a sauna. So yeah, that was how my extra 15 minutes of driving time turned into vacation time, and I didn't even have a job.

Oh yeah, and after calculating 4 times to confirm it, I felt pretty bad-ass for getting 38mpg on one tank.

[JoeBob]

On my 45 mile each way commute, if I am going 70 mph, I can get to work in about 45 minutes. If I am driving 50-55 mph, it takes me about an hour each way, depending on whether I stop somewhere along the way. Mileage at the faster speed is in the low 30s, at the slower speed I have gotten as high as 43 mpg. Or, 19/26 if I drive the Cad. Use the extra time to listen to audiobooks, NPR or Pacifica radio.

[2001Jeep]

I commute roughly the same distance about 62 miles round trip and do not see a huge difference in my time on the road. Maybe 15 min total for the day.

Admittedly, im not driving super slow. I do around 60 on the high way which is 1/3 of the trip and about 50 on a suburban route with 2 traffic lights (another 1/3 of my trip)

I have been consistently getting between 19 and 20 MPG with My Jeep Cherokee sport. This is well above EPA.

I just removed the roof rack cross bars to see how that effects MPG.

[gascort]

Originally Posted by roflwaffle

The direct cost savings via fuel for driving slower aren't as attractive, if at all, when the individual in question makes ~10-20+/hour, however given that traffic accidents are the top when it comes down to accidental fatalities, that a vehicle traveling 75mph compared to 55mph needs nearly twice as much room to stop, and that a significant amount of traffic is caused by accidents, be them serious or fender benders, I wonder if on average, having people drive safely/slowly would really cost more in terms of time/money than what occurs daily on CA freeways. ...

I was going to mention the safety aspect as well; one person mentioned low blood pressure too.
We're all cruising around with $2000+ of seat belts, crumple zones, and airbags in our cars, and they work a heck of a lot better if you're going slower if you actually get in an accident!
The cost of healthcare can be expensive, and relaxing helps everything from Blood pressure to your immune system, and can make you more enjoyable to be around when you're out of the car. I've noticed these effects as well.

I really enjoyed reading your calculation of this on your blog, however. For the everyday person, energy efficiency has to be cost effective for them to even think about changing their routine or normal energy sources.

My wife and I pay a slightly higher rate for electricity at our home so our utility purchases renewable energy credits from midwest wind farms equal to our usage. My dad thinks I'm getting scammed, but I think it's worth paying an extra $5-7 a month to prepare infrastructure for problems down the road. If kids only listened to all the preaching their science teachers do like I did when I was a kid...