How to Use Hypermiling Driving Techniques to Save Money on Gas

With fuel costs rising at an alarming rate just about everyone is trying to find methods to save money on gas. Hypermiling driving is a series of techniques that teach you how to make small changes in the way you drive that use less gas and keep more money in your pocket.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• a vehicle with cruise control (optional but required for one of the techniques listed)

1. Know your vehicle’s gas mileage. To determine this fill your vehicle’s tank up completely and reset your vehicle’s trip counter to zero. If you don’t have a trip counter simply record your vehicle’s odometer numbers. When you fill up your vehicle again record the number on the trip counter or odometer. If you’re using the odometer subtract the first reading from the second—if using the trip counter simply use that number displayed. Now divide the number of miles your vehicle traveled by the number of gallons it took to fill your vehicle. This number is your vehicle’s miles per gallon ratio.
2. Ease up on braking. When you brake you turn has into heat in order to slow down your vehicle. This burns gas unnecessarily if you are braking too often. Instead leave a buffer between you and the vehicle in front of you. Coast to a stop as often as possible. By driving less aggressively and braking fewer times you’ll save money on gas with this hypermiling driving trick.
3. Lessen your time at red lights. Every second that you are stopped at a red light you’re are burning gas and going nowhere. This significantly reduces your vehicles miles per gallon ratio. Instead of braking at the last second and sitting at that red light longer remove your foot from the accelerator as soon as you see an upcoming red light. Coast to a stop and you’ll have reduced your sitting time.
4. Drive smart in traffic jams. This hypermiling driving technique was discovered by an engineer while driving in rush hour traffic. Instead of following those “stop and start” waves typical in rush hour traffic jams focus on driving at a slower but steadier pace. When the vehicle in front of you begins to move allow a large space to open up between you and that vehicle. Now accelerate slowly and keep driving at a slow and steady pace. Chances are when you near the vehicle in front of you they will have begun moving again. By continually moving at a slower but steady pace you will still get to where you’re going in the same time but have used much less gas to get there.
5. Roll to a start. This works with automatic transmission vehicles only. Starting a vehicle moving from a dead stop takes more gas to achieve. When beginning to move from a dead stop take your foot off the brake and allow your vehicle to begin rolling forward on its own. Once in motion press the accelerator and begin to speed up. This will save on the amount of gas it takes to get your vehicle in motion.
6. Accelerate slowly. The faster you force your vehicle to get up to a certain speed the more has you burn in order to obtain that speed. By allowing yourself a few extra seconds to get up to speed you’ll burn less gas and save money.
7. Use cruise control to save on gas. To help you accelerate slowly you can rely on your cruise control function of your vehicle if it has it installed. Read your vehicles owners manual in order to familiarize yourself with your system. When accelerating after a dead stop slowly accelerate as normal until your reach the speed in which your cruise control would enable (usually about 25 mph). When you reach that speed hit the “set” button on your cruise control and continue to slowly accelerate by pressing the “accelerate” button until you reach your desired speed.
8. Keep checking your vehicle’s miles per gallon ratio when you fill up. If you are using all these techniques properly you should see your miles per gallon ratio rise and your visits to the gas pump decrease. All these techniques make up the hypermiling driving technique and should save you money at the pump.

Tips & Warnings

• Give your vehicles regular maintenance and tune ups to help with maximum performance and fuel efficiency.
• Don’t use the cruise control acceleration technique when trying to merge safely into moving traffic such as merging onto a freeway.
• Always have your foot poised to apply the brake when using cruise control in order to assure you can brake safely in time should the need arise.