Slow Down

Wait, does driving slowly actually use less gas? I thought that was just an old wives' tale.

It does indeed. Check out this article and do a find on "Speed Destroys FE!" if you want to skip right to it.

Yup, driving slower definitely raises your mileage. I think that gas useage is almost exponentially greater once you start going over 65. It also helps your mileage to keep your engine well-tuned (duh), tires full, etc. I think my car would still get 28 highway mpg if I got an oil change and new tires, both of which are long overdue. Now I'm sitting at around 25 highway mpg.

I saw this special the other day on tv on a device that increases your gas mileage. http://greenfuellab.com/

You're kidding, right?

I'm actually dead-set on getting a motorscooter when I move out, since they get even more MPG than hybrid cars. Also, they're cheaper to buy and insure than cars, and I just can't seem to get a license, and there are a lot of other reasons.

Sarasnee, forgive my internet-jaded skepticism, but that thing sort of looks like a scam.

Well... The scam was on CNN and he filled a car with gas, drove 51 miles, and could only put a half gallon in afterward. And it was like... some sort of non-hybrid Accord I think.

Edit to add - And yes, the website does look rather scam-my. It's new and not updated, I wouldn't trust it either if I'd just run into it without the CNN thing.

One day I'm going to own an electric motorcycle like this one. So very cool.

I'd love a hybrid vehicle.. provided it's second hand of course :) You kind of love the environmental savings buying a first hand imported vehicle that's had a huge amount added to it's carbon footprint by the shipping process.

There's a group of people who practice something known as "hypermiling." Some of their techniques are quite interesting. Here's their web site: http://www.hypermiling.com/

I've thought of buying a motorcycle or scooter to help on gas, but they're so dangerous that I'd rather not.

Hybrid vehicles are cool, but their extra costs is often not worth it when compared to a similar non-hybrid.

Hybrid vehicles are cool, but their extra costs is often not worth it when compared to a similar non-hybrid.

Well that depends on the country you live in and how much your (fossil) fuel is subsidized. In South Africa, as in the states, our fuel has always been heavily subsidized, especially diesel, but that's slowly changing. Once we get to the point where we are paying full price (as we should, subsidizing non-sustainable fuels at the expense of sustainable practices is just stupid in the long term) the higher initial cost of hybrids and other alternative energy vehicles will look more and more like a bargain.

31.67mpg in the Honda S2000 on my last tank, 90% city driving. It's EPA ratings are 18/24 btw.

Hybrid vehicles are cool, but their extra costs is often not worth it when compared to a similar non-hybrid.

Well that depends on the country you live in and how much your (fossil) fuel is subsidized. In South Africa, as in the states, our fuel has always been heavily subsidized, especially diesel, but that's slowly changing. Once we get to the point where we are paying full price (as we should, subsidizing non-sustainable fuels at the expense of sustainable practices is just stupid in the long term) the higher initial cost of hybrids and other alternative energy vehicles will look more and more like a bargain.

-"FlintZA"

It also depends on how much you drive. We did the math and determined that my dad, who has an hour to three hour commute (each way, aka, 2 to 6 hours), would be able to pay the monthly payment for a hybrid car in saved gas money alone. Especially because they pay him like 70 cents a mile for mileage.

It also depends on how much you drive. We did the math and determined that my dad, who has an hour to three hour commute (each way, aka, 2 to 6 hours), would be able to pay the monthly payment for a hybrid car in saved gas money alone. Especially because they pay him like 70 cents a mile for mileage.

Is his commute mostly town driving? If I'm not mistaken, the electric part of HEV's mostly takes over at lower speeds (ie town driving), so if the highest percentage of your daily commute is high speed highway driving it won't make as much of an impact savings wise. I do about 20km one way to work, of which maybe 6-7km is town driving, so I'd save on just over a third of my trip.

^ Nope, it is mostly highway driving. So, not over 65 most days and he drives slower for the mileage. It kind of depends also. He spends a lot of time on bumpy dirt roads going uber slow too lol, and that can be half the commute.

At any rate, a better mileage with a hybrid would have proven bette rthan the 12 mpg SUV he was driving. Even with low performance he'd save a bundle.

For mostly city a Hybrid can be a good idea, for mostly highway a diesel is your best bet for MPGs.

For mostly city a Hybrid can be a good idea, for mostly highway a diesel is your best bet for MPGs.

-"adam"

Sure, if all you're going for is MPGs. If you're trying to cut emissions as well, then diesel is a bad idea-despite what Europeans have been led to believe. Also, the price difference between petrol and diesel may nullify the savings in some countries. In South Africa the lowering of diesel subsidies is rapidly leading to a situation where you're better driving a petrol vehicle with higher milage because you'll end up saving more in the long run.

I heard that air resistance increases exponentially with velocity. So the faster you go the more resistance the car will have and efficiency is lowered.

Getting stopped for speeding is a highly inefficient use of time and can lead to having to pay fines or spend time and fuel getting to court and end up being fined anyway. Even if you are lucky to get a warning, you have the stress and time involved while getting your driving status checked and then warned.

Leaving earlier, not feeling rushed or late and driving close to the speed limit generally makes me feel more relaxed too.

If there is any traffic the driver will have to apply the brakes more often when coming up on slower vehicles. Any application of the brakes is energy lost. This is why city mpg is generally lower.

I try to accelerate steadily and anticipate having to slow and / or stop by looking ahead and letting off the accelerator as soon as I can while not being too annoying to the driver behind me. I know I get irritated (I am still working on the imperturbable mind) at drivers who stop short or allow gaps to form in traffic. :evil: An inefficient use of road space.

I don't know if the above driving habits save fuel, because I have not tested them scientifically. I would like to believe they do, and it makes me feel better to think they do. I have not felt the need to cave to "green" marketing, buy a hybrid, and put another car with an expensive heavy metal laden battery on the road. The car I have is well maintained and gets good mileage as it is. Just my opinion.

YMMV

Yeah it's actually more green to just pick up a fairly efficient used car than to buy a new hybrid.