New ecomodding / hypermiling video on Faircompanies.com
 

I haven't been active on this site in about a year, but I have still been hypermiling all along.

I got interviewed by a green living website that I used to blog for, and they just posted it online. They have a pretty decent audience, so hopefully it will introduce some new people to the concept.

And my blog commenting on that video is now also up:
http://biodieselhauling.blogspot.com...-projects.html

I mention you guys (the ecomodder forum) in it!

Mad Max hypermiler hacks 2-ton truck & doubles fuel economy - videos - *faircompanies

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qBo7k_9zxBs

Nice video.

You're good at explaining all the concepts. Very calm & collected for a "Mad Max hypermiler hacker". :D

The results from mods + driving techniques speak volumes too.

EDIT: you'll likely catch grief in the video comments for pulse & glide. It's a hot-button for some people, but you know that already.

This is great. I'm struck by your description of your experience with the deep cycle batteries and the solar panel. That's a 15watt panel inside on the dash and it really can fully recharge two large RV deepcycle batteries in parallel? Where did you buy the batteries? How much time, from how deeply discharged can that smallish panel recharge them?

I know. The person who shot it already questioned that, but she thought the explanation was a bit long and complex to include.
I catch some grief for lots of stuff, but that's just the cost of stepping outside of mainstream, and then publicizing it. As long as I know I'm doing it safely, I can handle anonymous internet criticism.

Not long after that video was made I started putting the solar panel on the roof whenever I park, which seems to have helped a lot. Even so, it takes several days of being parked in full sun to fully charge after a few hours of driving. I use the truck exclusively for hauling/moving jobs or jobs where I need to carry all my tools, and I only work a few days a week, so often that works out.
I rarely drive at night, so I don't need headlights, all my other lights are LEDs, and it is a diesel so there is no spark plug system drawing power. The main use of electricity are the brake booster and my stereo.

I bought the batteries at a local place that only sells batteries - I prefer to buy local anyway, but they were also about 50% cheaper than the same batteries at WalMart

Too bad!

Illustrating reading traffic flow & light timing was nicely done too.

Excellent video. You did an awesome job explaining the numerous concepts behind hypermiling ! :thumbup:

Good video and welcome back. One thing that you mention that's particularly true for driving a large vehicle is the power of looking ahead and thinking ahead--more mass means you have to look farther ahead.

Great video.

A few years ago I tried to sell my dad on buying some solar panels or wind turbines for the house but he didn't like the long payoff.

How long do you think it'll take to pay off the cost of the solar panel and batteries, over having an alternator?

Very good video. I would try to fix that smooth undertray before it falls off ;).

Hey - I see the video has gotten some exposure on other sites:

Treehugger: How to Get 30 MPG in a 2.5 Ton Hacked Biodiesel Truck : TreeHugger

Gas 2.0: Video: How To Get 30 MPG In A 30-Year-Old Diesel Pickup

Congrats.