New Feature: EcoModder Team Competition

[groar]

My last old fashion tank was 3.25L/100 (72.3mpg) and 1825km (1134mi). As soon as I installed my kill switch I did 3.14L/100 (74.9mpg) and 1900km (1182mi).

My 2011 average is currently 3.66L/100 (64.3mpg) while some period in 2010 was 4.14L/100 (56.9mpg).

I have an old turbo diesel without direct injection nor high pressure pump, so it helps to save I wouldn't have tried to install a kill switch on a modern common rail.

Also my car is rather light (1130kg = 2500lbs) compared to the standard 1300kg from nowadays. Its default CdA is also smaller than nowadays standard and with all the aeromods I installed it should be at Prius' CdA

My next car will be a SULEV capable, certainly a second hand Prius. It will cost me more per km (as gasoline is 15% more expensive than diesel in France) but I know I shall emit much fewer pollutants than in my Euro2 diesel.

Denis.

[euromodder]

Originally Posted by groar

My next car will be a SULEV capable, certainly a second hand Prius. It will cost me more per km (as gasoline is 15% more expensive than diesel in France) but I know I shall emit much fewer pollutants than in my Euro2 diesel.

If it runs on gasoline, it can be converted to CNG - and be a lot cleaner still.

[groar]

With a second hand Prius I would go with an engineer kit (preferred), or a E85 kit.

By now I'm just doing my best with what I have, which is also a lot of fun

Denis.

[alvaro84]

I've been offered to get an E85 kit for half the price, but the hassle with its installation and setting up held me back - according to my calculations I wouldn't gain anything financially by installing it, and I'm not that sure that ethanol is the Holy Grail. With today's manufaturing processes it surely isn't (EROEI<2, pushes industrial agriculture to exhaust soil even more, and so on).
I was really tempted, though, because of my curiosity.

[groar]

<OT>
In France (and Europe ?) Ethanol is build from beet and cultures declared for food can't be used for Ethanol, so there is no competition between food and Ethanol. Also beet need much less water and soil nutrients.
</OT>

Trip odo is at 800km and not yet at half tank

As it was rather warm this evening (15°C 59°F) I decided to test a new config : upper grill on and an opening in front of the turbo heat exchanger. I drove 20 miles at 90-120 km/h (56-75mph) with long accelerations at wot Coolant temperature needle stayed in safe place and engine fan didn't started while lately the coolant temperature needle was going quickly too high with upper grill on and grill block also in front of turbo heat exchanger. Opened only half of front of turbo heat exchanger so I will always be able to open it more before having to remove the upper grill block

Wasted a little diesel, but I'm ready to improve during next two months with warmer temps

Have fun,

Denis.

[Speed_Bump]

Just joined team ford! The sabotage is only temporary, sorry guys!
This team thing is a great way to encourage friendly competition, IMHO. And my daily commute needs a lil' more eco in it
Should have my mpgs up in the mid 30's at least by next fill up (this week).
(New ecomodder here, be gentle) :P

[alvaro84]

Today I made an experimental (and kind of illegal) shortcut with a little offroad, I saved ~1km worth of gas, which won't really affect my average, but it's good if we see the big picture

Tripmeter is at 459km now, today I'll fill up (I wrote that my 'tank finished' when low fuel light came out - I calculate light to light, not fill to fill.)

<OT>I read some more, it seems that mostly corn and wheat are used in Hungary. TTT, we produce a lot of them, but most of it is exported and now flour is like 60% more expensive than a year ago. And it's not because of the ethanol production, but someones' stupidity and greed... Yet declaring that an area is for ethanol production and the other one is for food doesn't change the fact that food could be produced on the land used for ethanol crops. It's OK as long as we don't need more food, but the best really would be to grow energy crops only where we can't grow food (and the area is already used for agriculture), because of the lower quality of the soil - and to use waste, of course.</OT>

[brucepick]

I'm in. Team Honda!

As Speed Bump says, "...The sabotage is only temporary, sorry guys!..."

The Civic had a rough winter, but with the recent head rebuild and some aero work, it's been getting some very decent tanks, like 50 mpg on today's fillup. Should only get better hopefully, as I complete the planned aero work and we get summer fuel etc. etc.

[PaleMelanesian]

That's more like it!

[alvaro84]

Originally Posted by groar

I wish you to improve as much as I'm doing, so your 1st 2011 3L/100 (78mpg) shall happen this spring

One more little step closer: today's tank became 3.04l/100km (over 466km). Frost still can happen, but 10C+ temps too. It's spring afterall