When it comes to motor sports, speed is normally what anyone would care about. But if you talk about long range races, perhaps that is not always the case. The important thing is to consider how far you can go, regardless of the speed you are driving at. And that is practically what Hypermiling is all about.

Hypermiling is the new kind of motoring event where cars are driven thousands of miles very slowly and very carefully, proving that motor sports don’t have to be all about screeching tyres, maximum revs and power slides.

The aim is to drive the car as far as possible on a single tank of fuel, as frugally as possible. That means no stereo, no air conditioning, no open windows and minimal use of the throttle. Tire pressures are inflated to their absolute maximum to reduce rolling resistance and every fuel-saving technique possible is applied – such as freewheeling down hills! Not recommended by your car insurance company.

Tips for Hypermilers:

• Accelerate as smoothly and as little as you can possibly get away with.
• Brake as gently and as little as possible; anticipating the traffic flow will help you achieve this.
• Coast up to traffic lights and stop signs.
• As you approach the top of a hill, take your foot off the accelerator; gravity will automatically increase your speed as you crest the brow.
• Avoid bumps and potholes, which reduce forward momentum.
• Install a fuel-consumption gauge in your car, so you can track your performance.

(Source) Press

Tags: absolute maximum, accelerator, car insurance company, fuel consumption, gauge, gravity, hypermiling, momentum, motor sports, open windows, performance source, potholes, power slides, sports speed, tire pressures, traffic lights

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May is EcoDriving month hence a call for motorists to try and improve their driving skills such as improving fuel consumption and reducing the carbon footprint use. To mark the first EcoDriving month, the program is partnering with Indy Goes Green, sponsored by the racing team of Nelson Philippe. The program raises awareness about how to be an EcoDriver, and aims to be the first-ever carbon neutral Indy team.

“The key to EcoDriving is that anyone can do it, in any vehicle, and best of all, it’s easy,” said Dave McCurdy, president and CEO of the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers. “Now, as the summer driving season gets underway, EcoDriving month is the ideal time for each of us to renew our green driving habits.”

During National EcoDriving Month, the Auto Alliance and its 11 global automakers are working to educate consumers about the benefits of EcoDriving through www.EcoDrivingUSA.com. Practicing EcoDriving produces the highest mileage from every single vehicle, regardless of size or age–potentially affecting the United States’ entire fleet of 245 million automobiles. As a result, the possible benefits of the program are significant, and many fuel-saving EcoDriving practices are surprisingly simple, such as:

• The U.S. Department of Transportation estimates that using cruise control for 10,000 of the miles driven in a year could save a driver nearly $200 and more than 60 gallons of fuel.
• Observing the speed limit and not exceeding 60 mph, where legally allowed, can improve mileage by up to 23 percent.
• Traffic lights are often synchronized so that a motorist driving at a specific speed will pass through a series of green lights without stopping. Driving at a steady speed can help drivers avoid red lights, therefore keeping their vehicles moving more efficiently.

(Source) Press

Tags: alliance of automobile manufacturers, auto alliance, automakers, automobiles, consumers, cruise control, department of transportation, estimates, fleet, fuel consumption, indy, mileage, motorists, nelson philippe, speed limit, steady speed, traffic lights

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