Hypermiling - What is it ?

Ever wondered how to cope with rising fuel prices, without it burning a hole in your pocket? Hypermilers show the way! Hypermiling or fuel efficient driving mainly capitalizes on modern technological innovations and historically invented driving techniques. To all those who may think this involves technical jargon or dangerous stunts, it may come as a surprise that even small actions will make you tread the Hypermiling way.

Methods that improve fuel economy in automobiles together are known as Hypermiling.  Techniques involved in Hypermiling are both simple and complex. Here are some simple techniques that can one can use to implement hypermiling. 

Automobile maintenance is one of the most important steps in implementing hypermiling, because it is a key factor in improving fuel efficiency. Maintaining air pressure of tyres at the maximum recommended one reduces requirement of excess energy to overcome friction.  Under-inflated tyres increase rolling resistance by approximately 1.4 percent for every 0.1 bar drop in pressure of all four tyres. Scheduled maintenance of car parts such as the spark plug and sensors is important so that probabilities of their malfunction are reduced. Riding or parking in the shade also economizes fuel by reducing evaporation losses.

Improving aerodynamic efficacy also aids in hypermiling. Reduction of cargo or people in the automobile decreases load on the engine. Travelling without unnecessary car accessories also improves fuel economy. Not only people and cargo, fuel in the tank also contributes to unnecessary load. Travelling with a half full tank and refilling frequently helps in the long run. The same goes for spare tyres. Driving with the windows rolled up reduces air drag and load on the engine.

Efficient driving techniques also play a major role in implementing hypermiling, as they are key to improving fuel efficiency of a vehicle. Every automobile is designed for maximum engine efficiency at a particular speed known as its optimum speed. Travelling either above or below that increases fuel consumption. Travelling at the optimum speed whenever possible is a great boost for efficient engine run as well as for fuel economy. Optimal efficiency can also be expected while cruising with no stops, at minimal throttle and with the transmission in the highest gear. When the above two is not possible, driving with a suitable gear for the particular speed is also good enough. Correct choice of gear nearly matches the torque that is actually necessary and the torque delivered by the engine, for the required power. Avoiding high-traffic areas at peak hours is another method, since road congestion affects speed and hence fuel consumption. Congestion pricing is based on this principle; it raises the price of road access at times of higher usage, to prevent cars from entering traffic and lowering speeds below efficient levels. Note, however, that maximizing throughput and fuel efficiency per vehicle mile traveled does not necessarily minimize total fuel consumption as alternate circutaneous routes may increase fuel consumed. A fuel-efficient strategy is to anticipate what is happening ahead, and drive in such a way so as to minimize acceleration and braking, and maximize coasting time. When not possible, accelerating smoothly without jerks also helps. Regenerative braking, used in hybrid/electric cars is a wonderful technology that saves heat energy lost in conventional braking systems as chemical (battery), mechanical (flywheel) or electrical energy (condenser) for future use. Anticipating other drivers’ moves as well as giving indications about the automobile’s manoeuvres also helps in free flow of traffic. Switching of the engine during standby, instead of running it on idle mode, is also a great tip to save fuel. The AC switched on during high speed driving also improves engine efficiency and hence minimizes fuel consumption. Driving with the correct fuel for the particular engine design (higher octane fuel for the same) improves engine efficiency.

Apart from these, there are several other advanced techniques that can be implemented for hypermiling.

1.      Burn and Coast or Pulse and Glide:

This method consists of giving acceleration to a particular speed aka a pulse and then gliding i.e. driving with zero acceleration. During the pulse (acceleration) phase of pulse and glide, the efficiency is near maximal due to the high torque and much of this energy is stored as kinetic energy of the moving vehicle. This efficiently-obtained kinetic energy is then used in the glide phase to overcome rolling resistance and aerodynamic drag.

2.      Coasting:

Driving with constant speed in neutral gear is another trick. This technique can be tried when traffic is far and less and as the engine is shut off, fuel consumption is reduced. 

3.      Drafting:

Drafting or tailgating involves skirting close to the rear end of a large vehicle so as to obtain cover from headwind hence reducing aerodynamic losses. This is highly risky and accounts for a majority of rear-end crash related accidents and hence is not advisable.

There is yet another method that saves fuel. It is both simple as well as complex, simple in approach, complex in action - going green! Fuel not consumed is fuel earned. Easiest ways would be to one of the following. Carpool or use public transportation systems as much as possible. Cover shorter distances by greener methods such as cycling or walking. Use shortcuts as much as possible.

This is just a small summary of the many things you can do to implement hypermiling. In this age of dwindling fuel reserves, it is really important to step up and take an initiative to do everything in our power to conserve our planet’s resources. Read more about hypermiling, watch videos on YouTube on how to implement it, and go out there and implement it. These steps that we take will go a long way in mankind’s collective endeavour to conserve the Earth’s reserve of resources. Because, if we don’t save our planet, who will ?