10 Hyper-Miling Techniques for Greener Driving

Your mileage can vary —with driving techniques that save fuel.

Here at Green Prophet, we’re in favor of increasing “green” mass transportation and reducing dependence on private vehicles. But people who need to drive fuel-based vehicles, whether for work or emergencies, can use “hypermiling” techniques to save gas. There have even been contests to get maximum fuel efficiency, sometimes double the kilometers per liter advertised by the car manufacturer. Using less fuel means less pollution, less drilling and a greener planet.

Here are ten simple hyper-miling techniques to get you started:

1. Keep your engine clean and well maintained.
2. Inflate your tires to the manufacturer’s recommendation.
3. Install a gauge to keep track of your fuel  consumption on every trip.
4. Remove unused roof racks, and other unnecessary weight. Keep your spare tire, but you might want to reconsider the one around your waist. Every 22 extra kilograms can reduce fuel effiency by 1 percent.
5. Park in a spot where you can get a rolling start.
6. Maintain a steady but safe speed in traffic, without braking. Stop-and-go driving wastes gas. If you leave a gap between your car and the car in front of you, so you won’t have to brake when other cars switch into your lane. Less braking prevents traffic jams too.
7. Stick close to a speed of 90 kilometers an hour where legal. It’s still considered the most efficient speed for most vehicles.
8. Turn off your engine when stopping for more than 30 to 60 seconds, including at stoplights.
9. Avoid the air-conditioner, close the windows and open the inside vents instead. Park in the shade, with your windows slightly open. Turn off the air-conditioner five minutes before you reach your destination
10. Take your foot off the accelerator and coast whenever possible.

Photo credit: Michael Spencer

Resources:

OpenTravelInfo

CleanGPA

Read more on efficient lifestyle choices:
Can the Biolite Stove Generate Clean Cooking for the Middle East?
Wear Your Baby in a Sling for Eco-Benefits
Meat Prices Going Up? Tips for Switching to a Vegetable-Based Diet

Author: Hannah Katsman

Hannah learned environmentalism from her mother, a conservationist before it was in style. Once a burglar tried to enter their home in Cincinnati after noticing the darkened windows (covered with blankets for insulation) and the snow-covered car in the driveway. Mom always set the thermostat for 62 degrees Fahrenheit (17 Celsius) — 3 degrees lower than recommended by President Nixon — because “the thermostat is in the dining room, but the stove’s pilot light keeps the kitchen warmer.” Her mother would still have preferred today’s gas-saving pilotless stoves. Hannah studied English in college and education in graduate school, and arrived in Petach Tikva in 1990 with her husband and oldest child. Her mother died suddenly six weeks after Hannah arrived and six weeks before the first Gulf War, and Hannah stayed anyway. She has taught English but her passion is parental education and support, especially breastfeeding. She recently began a new blog about energy- and time-efficient meal preparation called CookingManager.Com. You can find her thoughts on parenting, breastfeeding, Israeli living and women in Judaism at A Mother in Israel. Hannah can be reached at hannahk (at) greenprophet (dot) com.

Comments

comments