HYPERMILERS: THE NEW OBSESSION? — by Steve Nadis
Last night I read a fun article in the Jan./Feb. Mother Jones about “hypermilers’–the latest bunch of kooks to come down the pike–drivers who are pushing fuel economy to crazy extremes. To get 100 miles per gallon or more and thereby claim the crown of “Most Fuel-Efficient Driver in the World,” these drivers will go through red lights and stop signs, negotiate the curves on highway exit ramps at more than 50 miles per hour, and draft dangerously close behind giant trucks on the freeways. I’ve long been in favor of auto efficiency and have written on these matters, off and on, for several decades, but if there is such a thing as going too far, this is clearly one of them.
Posted by
at
13:33:26
I think you’re missing the real value to this obsession, Snake–a gradual reduction in the number of drivers on the road. Or, to paraphrase Scrooge, “If they’re willing to die, they should do it and thereby decrease the overall fuel consumption.”
Bah, Hummer.
That’s an intriguing idea, Gatemouth, albeit harsh. I think if we start talking about highway deaths as a good thing, we’re starting to travel down a dangerous road.
does anyone else have some more puns for this post?
I considerED myself a quintessential “hypermiler” (what an odd term LOL) back in ‘78 as a sprouting Mechanical Engineer during my college daze. I drove a hand-me-down Peugeot 304 [the fluent auto buffs are no-doubt groaning at this juncture). I drove ‘as if on vapours’..& managed 38 mpg one warm, still evening on NH-101.
I still recall having perturbed drivers pass me on the uphill only to be out-pace them on the descent, often irritating them so as to feel the need to race or pass me.
OH…the stories!
But barreling thru the Reds, or (e-GADS) “negotiating exit ramps” @ +50 was not my idea of pinching pennies.(Remember,CO2 excesses were scarcly a thought in the ’70s.)
So, Snake-ya ever hear of, or {a-hem} USE 1 o’ those “water injectors” hat gave ya a ‘burst’ of ’steam power’ at the expense of Xtra cylinder stress?
As I now drive a 24 mpg SUV, I’ve often thought of resorting to adolescent extremes, but I’m afraid my nod to the Hyper-miler Guru is now best embodied by trips to the petrol refillers in the early AM so as to get the most actual feul/gallon (coldest=densest)-a tip garnered from the Ch.5 Consumer Lady way back in ‘78. Touche!
Nice story, MP, though sorry to here you’ve moved (along w/the rest of the world) from that Peugot to the SUV. GS, I’m still working on those puns…
Sorry to hear that I’ve moved from that Poo-jote to my SUV?
Snakle…you don’t KNOW what an ODD DUCK & unreliable pc. of shite that 304 WAS(E.G:THREE lug nuts/wheel)
Drove like a DREAM…when it was Running (what w/independ frnt struts,frnt-whl drv,Mich-Radials& 4wheelDiscBrakes-RARE in ‘71), but things like [just] FOUR exposed fuses on a tire well & a fanbelt that took more odd turns than Bill himself?’Twas a Nightmare to maintain-if U can call it that.
OK, then welcome to the club and Al Gore be damned. (What kind of car does he drive anyways?)
PrObably a Prius. But I’D take a late 80s Corrolla w/ lo- miles,little rust(ha!)& 1 finnicky owner as my ‘beater’ any day.(Luv Chevy but they never made a good subcompact.)
Still waiting for that 90mpg carb…;)
I thought that ol’ Al drove an Asian car that ran on ozone and daydreams… that’s what I thought he said, anyway…
Thanks GS, that sounds about right…