Have you ever given 1-on-1 ecodriving instruction? (Here's how I did it.)

[MetroMPG]

Originally Posted by Philscar

Thanks for the great instruction today.Learned lots of interesting mileage tips.
We just have to figure out how to get some sail power onto the Civic and we can drive by all the gas stations

Phil

Any day, Phil! You're a natural. Or maybe that's Connie's influence, reminding you when to coast!

[MetroMPG]

The folks who had the 2007 Camry hybrid (see the summary of their previous ecodriving session in post #41) upgraded to a Lexus 200h hybrid recently, so we went out for another ecodriving session with the new steed.

Phenomenal results! ~30 mpg (US) higher than the Camry.

Since they've done this before, we only drove 2 laps (student doing "baseline", me driving the "demo" lap). The results? Wow.

Depending on which display we read (factory vs. ScanGauge II), either the owner or I got the "high score". I gave the "win" to the owner in the graph, below.

This is over the same sub/urban route I've been using for all the driving sessions.




This was on a warm day, with the A/C off and the windows down. The drivetrain was already warm when we started.

The funny part: the owner made liberal use of the "EV mode" button toward the end of the drive, so when I took over from him, there wasn't as much stored energy for me to play with! (I would have done the same to him. )

[niky]

No turning on the AC as you get out of the car for the switch-off?

[MetroMPG]

HA!

No, he decided the subtle approach wasn't his style... Hit the EV mode button and drove until the car said, "out of juice; no more EV for you!" -- then he handed it over to me.

[MetroMPG]

This was my first immediate family member interested in eco-driving - my brother and his new-to-him 2005 Nissan X-Trail (predecessor of the Rogue not sold in the States). 2.5L, 4-cylinder, 5-speed manual, AWD.

The usual bits of advice applied: avoid rushing into situations where you have to brake; cruise in the highest gear whenever possible; coast in neutral up to stops/turns/slowdowns; use DFCO to save fuel when you are forced to slow down faster than neutral coasting.

The fun bit was when he noticed: "You accelerate faster than me."

I've heard this observation from several drivers, and I like busting the myth that "efficient driving equals slow driving." (Highway cruising excepted.)

It turned out my "demonstration" lap was 1 km/h faster (average speed) than his "baseline" lap, despite me hitting more unavoidable red lights. Moderate/brisk acceleration is fine, provided you don't brake or otherwise slow down immediately afterward!

I'm looking forward to doing more of these this year.

[MetroMPG]

My brother made another comment after our session:

He realized that with driving technique it seems he can get better fuel economy in city driving than on the highway -- the opposite of how cars are usually rated.

I said: Yup, especially if you stop the engine when the car is stopping/stopped -- which is the main reason hybrids typically have better city than highway ratings.

[Daox]

Care to explain the newly branded terminology HYPER-SUPER-ECO-MILING?

I also like dispelling the myth that you have to accelerate like a grandpa/ma to get good FE.

[MetroMPG]

I just thought that hypermiling doesn't sound extreme enough anymore. Needed to bump it up a notch.

[songman]

I explained to the 80 year old father of a friend in Naples (Italy) that my hypermiling techniques included coasting downhill with the engine off, probably accounting for 30% of road use. Naples is a kind of African kasbah where you take your life into hands your just looking at a road. He thought I had an advanced suicide wish, irrespective of my frustrated explanations.

[MetroMPG]

Right. I don't go into advanced techniques in these sessions (unless the person specifically asks -- and a couple have, but they were existing EcoModder members).

The point isn't to cause alarm to the average driver, but to show how basic techniques can save a significant amount of fuel.