Drafting idea (using sails)

[SoobieOut]

Mythbusters tested drafting without the sails. Dangerous but did make a noticeable difference in MPG.

Mythbusters: drafting 10 feet behind a big rig will improve mileage 39 percent — Autoblog Green

[jamesqf]

Of course when they write something like this

The safest distance to drive behind a big rig at 55 miles per hour is 150 feet. Driving any closer is insane...

they only demonstrate that they've never driven on a California freeway. Leave 150 feet of space between you and any other vehicle, and it'll immediately be filled by at least 5 cars.

[Arragonis]

Well they all contribute to reducing your drag I suppose...

[jamesqf]

Sure. The point, though, is that since you're going to be forced to drive too close to something, it might as well be an 18-wheeler, 'cause a) truck drivers probably average a lot better than car drivers; b) if they do hit the brakes, they're probably not going to slow as fast as a passenger car; and c) the trailers mostly have the crash bars; and d) as low as the Insight is, maybe the safest place is under the trailer, to avoid being rear-ended by the semi tailgating me :-)

[bestclimb]

When gas goes away, I am thinking a high aspect ratio sail with a spinnaker on my civic could be fun. Power lines may be problematic though.

[euromodder]

Originally Posted by jamesqf

I've been toying with the idea of attaching the kite from one of these Kite buggy - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia to the Insight, for trips out to central Nevada. Once you get east of Fallon, there's not a whole lot to worry about in the way of power lines or other traffic...

It's even being applied to ships !
The kite is a bit bigger there though

[euromodder]

Originally Posted by Arragonis

Well they all contribute to reducing your drag I suppose...

With regular cars, you'd need to be drafting in Nascar-style to get any benefits.
A tad further out and you get more drag, rather than less drag.

[wilcorp70]

I mean technically you could spin some cylinders and use the magnus effect to use the wind power from any direction. That doesn't necessarily have to do with drafting though.

[SoobieOut]

On a recent trip to Wyoming on I-80 I was faced with the problem of encountering Deer every mile or so. Deer either have a death wish or the IQ of a house fly. Consistently jumping into harms way.

My solution to appease the backseat-driver (riding in the passengers seat) was to drive at 45 MPH all the way home, which meant getting home at 2 AM! or Draft behind an 18 wheeler, to let the truck hit the deer first.

I chose drafting at 75 MPH about 100 feet behind an 18 wheeler (until he got sick of the parasite on his bumper).

It was a Win-Win, I got 64 MPG and did not hit any deer.

What I need now is an auto distance correction for the cruise control, which keeps a constant, safe following distance. I think Mercedes offers this feature.

[gone-ot]

...a forward-facing "radar" unit maybe?

...or, if you can put up with the bell, how about one of the GM "reverse-backup" systems mounted on the front? Calibrate the "ding" rate and you're done.