Westworld Alberta
Issue link: http://westworldmagazine.ama.ab.ca/i/309330
66 w e s t w o r l d A l b e r t A | s u m m e r 2 0 1 4 (illustration) william duke Hypermiling: The Art of Extreme Fuel Efficiency BY RoBin SCHRoFFEL The concept of hypermiling – refi ning driving techniques and optimizing vehicles to drastically improve fuel effi ciency – has become trendy lately, as gas prices and concern about emissions rise. Below are seven simple strategies for saving fuel safely the next time you hit the road. 1. DO YOUR MaINTeNaNCe Checking your tire pressure monthly is essential, as having just one tire underinfl ated by 8 PSI can increase your fuel consumption by four per cent, not to mention reduce the tire's life by 15,000 kilo- metres. And change your oil regularly – dirty oil makes your engine work harder. 2. lIGHTeN YOUR lOaD Remove what isn't essential. For every 45 to 50 kg of extra weight, you're using between one and four per cent more fuel. 3. CONSeRVe MOMeNTUM e less time you spend with the accelerator pressed down, the less fuel you're converting into forward momentum. Coast whenever possible, using existing momentum to slow down, instead of accelerating then braking. Practise the pulse-and- coast method on side streets with stop signs, accel- erating quickly, then coasting the rest of the way. 4. leaVe a BUFFeR Driving too close to the vehicle ahead of you means you're engaged in a fuel-wasting game of Simon Says: they brake, you brake; they accelerate, you accelerate. Maintaining a three-second buff er enables you to drive at a more consistent speed, which consumes less gas. 5. aNTICIPaTe TRaFFIC FlOW Always look 12 to 20 seconds, or 1.5 city blocks, ahead of you, so that you can be proactive. When you see a "stale" green light – one that's been sitting at that colour for a while – you'll know to ease off the gas. By anticipating a stale red and approaching slowly, you may not have to brake at all. Plan your route ahead of time, choosing major arteries or alternative routes to avoid traffi c during peak hours. 6. DRIVe aT a lOW RPM Driving at a high RPM uses more fuel. So if you drive a standard, shift to a higher gear as soon as possible when accelerating. If you drive an auto- matic, make use of your vehicle's RPM-lowering overdrive gear and cruise control settings for highway travel. 7. CUT BaCK ON IDlING Ten seconds of idling uses up more fuel than it takes to start your vehicle again. If you're stopped outside of traffi c for more than 60 seconds, turn your vehicle off . W going Clean Learn to make every drop count by taking AMA's online Fuel Effi cient Driver Course. AMADriver Education.ca p60-67EnvironMotoring2.indd 66 14-04-29 9:39 AM