4 Tips for Safely Trying Out the Habit of Hypermiling
Photo: The News Wheel
If you’re not familiar with hypermiling, it’s the practice of driving a vehicle while using the least amount of fuel. Per HowStuffWorks contributor Cherise Threewitt, drivers who observe this habit usually do so for frugal or environmental reasons — or both.
Interested in trying out hypermiling? Some techniques are safer on your vehicle than others. Here are a handful of strategies to follow as you experiment with this unique driving habit.
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1. Use minimal electricity
Photo: The News Wheel
It might seem drastic, but serious hypermilers will often turn off the air-conditioning system and refrain from tapping into their vehicle’s electricity to boost mileage. Even using your car to charge your smartphone can take a toll on efficiency. This practice lowers your car’s MPG by 0.03 miles, as Jalopnik’s Jason Torchinsky claims.
2. Leverage cruise control
When driving long distances, use cruise control, as Threewhitt recommends. It’s a convenient way to accelerate and decelerate smoothly, which in turn, saves fuel.
3. Minimize pit stops and idling
Photo: Pexels
Map out a road-trip route well in advance of your planned departure date and pick the one with the fewest stops. Per Threewitt, stopping your car is a big waste of fuel. And when possible, avoid idling in parking lots, as Threewitt suggests.
4. Keep your car clean and light
Remove any clutter from your vehicle’s interior, since every object you eliminate will help reduce your ride’s overall weight, as Threewhitt confirms. If your car has roof racks or any other exterior accessories that you don’t use every day, consider removing these gadgets and storing them in your garage. This will further reduce the vehicle’s drag and improve efficiency.
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By applying these simple tips, you’re well on your way to reducing your vehicle’s fuel consumption, so you can save some cash and feel good about helping out Mother Earth. Learn more about how smart car tech reduces a vehicle’s annual gas usage. Then check out these nifty apps that help track mileage and expenses as you learn the ropes of hypermiling.
Whitney Russell resides in Dayton, though her spirit can be found beach-bumming in Puerto Rico (the land of her half-Puerto Rican heritage). When not crafting car-related content, she can be found chasing after the most amazing toddler in the world, watching her “beaver” of a husband build amazing woodworking projects, hanging out with two crazy dogs, and visiting family and friends. She also enjoys traveling, crafting, and binge-watching period dramas when time allows. See more articles by Whitney.