Hypermiling is driving or flying a vehicle with techniques that maximize
fuel efficiency
Fuel efficiency is a form of thermal efficiency, meaning the ratio of effort to result of a process that converts chemical potential energy contained in a carrier (fuel) into kinetic energy or work. Overall fuel efficiency may vary per device ...
. Those who use these techniques are called "hypermilers". In the case of cars, this is an extreme form of
energy-efficient driving.
Hypermiling can be practiced in any vehicle regardless of fuel consumption. It gained popularity due to the rise in gasoline prices in the 2000s. Some hypermiling techniques are illegal in some countries because they are dangerous. In 2008, the ''New Oxford American Dictionary'' voted "hypermiling" the best new word of the year.
Safety and awareness program
Hypermiling has come under fire from several sides because some hypermilers show dangerous or illegal behaviour, such as
tailgating
Tailgating is the action of a driver driving behind another vehicle while not leaving sufficient distance to stop without causing a collision if the vehicle in front stops suddenly.
The safe distance for following another vehicle varies depend ...
larger vehicles on motorways to save fuel, cycling between accelerating and coasting in neutral, and even turning the engine off when its power is not needed. For this reason, the Hypermiling Safety Foundation was established in August 2008 to promote a safety and education program that promotes legal fuel-saving techniques.
Hypermiling with electric cars
The range of some electric cars are limited. To get maximum out of the battery, drivers sometimes use hypermiling. Some try to get a new record with one charging of battery. For example, a
Tesla Model 3
The Tesla Model 3 is a compact executive sedan that is battery powered and produced by Tesla. Limited production of the Model 3 began in mid-2017, with the first production vehicle rolling off the assembly line on July 7, 2017. The offici ...
ran more than 1000 km with one battery charge. The average speed was 38 km/h and the whole drive took around 30 hours. The tester used the autopilot of Tesla Model 3, running the car unmanned. The test car did not drive on a public road.
Hypermiling with aircraft
There have been several aircraft hypermiling competitions held throughout the years, such the FuelVenture and
CAFE
A coffeehouse, coffee shop, or café is an establishment that primarily serves coffee of various types, notably espresso, latte, and cappuccino. Some coffeehouses may serve cold drinks, such as iced coffee and iced tea, as well as other non-c ...
challenges. Klaus Savier won the 2009 Fuelventure 400 in a
VariEze aircraft which got 45 MPG at 207 MPH with a modified
Continental O-200
The Continental C90 and O-200 are a family of air-cooled, horizontally opposed, four-cylinder, direct-drive aircraft engines of 201 in³ (3.29 L) displacement, producing between 90 and 100 horsepower (67 and 75 kW).''Federal Aviation Admini ...
engine upgraded with a computerized fuel injection and ignition system by Light Speed Engineering. By slowing to extend range, mileage approaches 100 miles per gallon.
See also
*
Fuel economy in automobiles
The fuel economy of an automobile relates distance traveled by a vehicle and the amount of fuel consumed. Consumption can be expressed in terms of volume of fuel to travel a distance, or the distance traveled per unit volume of fuel consumed. S ...
*
Rat running
Rat running (also known as rodent running, cut-through driving, or dive-bombing) is the practice by motorists of using residential side streets or any unintended short cut such as a parking lot, delivery service lane or cemetery road instead o ...
*
Energy-efficient driving
References
External links
* {{Wiktionary-inline
Driving techniques
Energy conservation