Hypermiling

The price of oil continues to increase. The knock-on effect of this is felt throughout the world and it highlights the extent of our energy use as well as our dependance on one particular source.

Everything we do is somehow dependant upon some form of fossil fuel from food production to taking a trip to the [heated] swimming pool [in a car].

Some might argue that higher energy prices will lead to better habits. People may demand more energy efficient devices, may cut out energy for certain purposes, and learn to make better use of what they do consume.

One of the largest energy consumers are transport and heating. For most people today transport means the car. Higher fuel costs cause people to think harder about how they use their cars. For example whether a journey is really necessary, or whether a journey could be shared.

However some journeys, like travelling to work, are harder to compromise. Nevertheless drivers don't have to be the victim, they can do something themselves to combat rising fuel prices by changing their driving habits.

This is made even easier these days with many modern cars being supplied with devices to monitor fuel consumption as standard. Some provide an indication of as many as three measurements; real-time, journey, and intra-journey. Irrespective of their degree of sophistication they all provide an indication of how much distance is being covered for a given unit of fuel, a useful guage. These devices provide a reasonably accurate means of feedback to the driver whom wants to reduce their fuel usage.

Some drivers take fuel efficiency to extremes, and the term 'hypermiling' has been coined to describe the techniques they apply. If you cannot avoid a car journey you might like to bear in mind some examples that hypermilers employ to minimuse thier fuel usage:

• Don't put more energy into the car than is necessary
• Don't take more energy out than is necessary
• Keep a constant speed
• Don't accelerate unduly quickly
• Choose the best time to travel whenever possible (i.e. avoid the worst of the rush hour if you can)
• Indicate your intentions to other road users (it will help them save fuel too!)
• Do not sacrifice safety for the sake of saving fuel; free-wheeling can be dangerous, tailgating can be dangerous, and turning off your engine is most definitely dangerous
• Spend to save - sometimes gaining a little speed (safely) may save overall, for example to avoid a situation that would otherwise cause you to have to stop your vehicle
• Put space between you and the car in front (even if this involves slowing down) to make it less likely you'll have to stop/start
• Keep your tyres at their reccommended pressure
• Don't carry unnecessary weight in the car (you should keep that spare tyre but the rear seats can go!!)
• Speeds in excess of 60mph are more expensive to maintain due to wind resistance
  
• Straighten out bends
• Don't labour the engine and do not over-rev the engine
• Get a car with an 'ecconomy guage'
• Get an ecconomical car (diesel or a hybrid/ lightweight / small engine)
• Read what other drivers are doing and try anticipate them but not to second guess them, assuming a driver is going to take a turn just because their indicator is on is no guarantee that they will
  
• Shop around for the cheapest fuel

If you do change your driving habits don't do it at the expense of driving safely. Always play within the rules and safety first! Also show consideration for other drivers. For example driving considerably below the prevailing traffic (especially on single-lane roads) might do wonders for you saving fuel but can annoy other drivers.

Finally don't forget to ask yourself whether you really need to use a car for that journey.

Going for a walk, a run, or taking your bicyle will not only save you fuel it's good for your health!