Hypermiling

Eco-driving comes to Formula 1 racing

2010-06-30T19:43:00.001+01:00

Formula One has always been innovative and many of its innovations have found their way into standard road cars. Now the governing body of Formula One racing wishes to turn its mind to carbon emissions.

The Formula One Teams Association (FOTA) intends cutting carbon emissions by 15% in three years. Engine size will be reduced from 2.4 to 1.5 litres. Fuel will be gradually reduced by half whilst developers try to keep the same power output with the intention of doubling the efficiency of the engines.

Other savings will be made on what other items teams buy. Also, the race calendar will be changed so that the teams trot the globe by moving to the nearest track rather than the seemingly random schedule there is today.

BBC - Formula One embarks on carbon-cutting drive

Toyota to invest in Tesla Motors

2010-05-21T16:38:00.000+01:00

Tesla Motors have driven a rocky road but now seem to be a firmer footing as Toyota agree to invest $50 million in the electric sports car manufacturer.

Tesla will benefit from Toyota's mass production know-how as it attempts to put an all-electric saloon (sedan) car on the market. In return, Toyota will gain increased knowledge in battery powered vehicles. Toyota is the manufacturer of the Prius hybrid car but has suffered in recent months from a recall of vehicles with faulty accelerator pedals and breaking systems.

BBC - Toyota investing $50m in electric car firm Tesla Motors

The future, it's electric!

2009-04-17T17:24:00.004+01:00

There has been a lot in the UK news about electric vehicles this week. Motorists are to be given grants to trade in their existing vehicles for greener models. £5000 will offered to people buying electric or hybrid vehicles.

However, there is a worry that not enough is being done to build infrastructure for motorists to recharge their vehicles away from home.

BBC - Plan to boost electric car sales

BBC - The future of electric motoring

BBC - Hoon's Electric Vision: How Green?

Guardian - Motorists to receive government grants for electric cars

Guardian - Labour's £5,000 sweetener to launch electric car revolution

Guardian - Tesla's Elon Musk: the democratisation of electric cars is speeding up

100,000 electric cars for London

2009-04-14T18:54:00.003+01:00

Boris Johnson, mayor of London, has announced that electric cars are to be a priority for London's streets. Plans include 25,000 charging points with all new buildings and 20% of all parking spaces to have charging points.

Guardian - London mayor – 100,000 electric cars for capital

Tesla unveils the Model S family car

2009-04-10T12:38:00.005+01:00

Tesla Motors is now attempting to enter the mainstream motor industry with its Model S, a four-door family vehicle with capacity for seven people.

The vehicle will have a range of 300 miles (483km) on a single charge and is expected to sell for $50,000 after a $7500 government rebate for those who buy electric vehicles.

Charging the 8000 cell power pack takes four hours and costs $5 at today's utility prices. Owners can expect to save $15,000 in petrol/gasoline prices over the lifetime of the vehicle.

Within a week of the announcement, Tesla had received over 500 advance orders despite not having yet received government assistance to build the factory that will manufacture the vehicle. The vehicle will reach the streets in 2011.

Website - Tesla Motors

Tata Nano

2009-03-23T19:28:00.003Z

The world's cheapest car, the Nano, has been unveiled. Priced at 100,000 rupees (£1350), the Nano is now being eyed by cost conscious westerners. In two years Tata Motors hopes to be selling in the west. However, the car will have to be modified for overseas sales as the model for sale in India has no air bags.

The car is also billed as being green with a 624cc rear engine at the rear, delivering 23.6 km/l, 67 mpg (UK) or 56 mpg (US), and has a CO2 emissions rating of 101 g/km (grams of carbon dioxide per kilometre driven).

New electric car goes like the wind

2009-03-15T15:21:00.002Z

A team of ex-motor industry employees have banded together and built an electric car from an old Lotus Exige that will run solely on wind power.

Guardian - Britain's pioneering electric supercar: powered by wind

Fuel from seaweed

2008-12-17T18:45:00.003Z

Before the global economic slowdown caused a collapse in the price of oil there was much consternation over the effect bio-fuels were having on the price of food. With oil at a record high, many farmers were cashing in with fuel crops. This led to less food for human consumption and food price inflation.

Eventually, the recession will end and demand for oil will increase. The price of oil will rise and farmers will start growing bio-fuel crops again.

Now, scientists in Scotland and Ireland have won funding for a project to create "mari-fuels" from seaweed. This will mean there is no pressure on farmland and there will be food price stability. Seaweed is fast growing and carbon neutral.

Guardian - Kelp-fuel cars on the horizon in Scotland

San Francisco to be electric car capital

2008-11-26T11:52:00.004Z

Ambitious plans in San Francisco set to make the city the electric car capital of the world. The Bay Area will be the first region in California to make a concerted change from fossil to renewable energy fuels for its transport systems.

In California, vehicles account for 40% of carbon emissions so the attempt to wean the state's transportation off fossil fuels will make a huge difference for the health of the state.

$1 billion will be invested to set up roadside recharging points across the Bay Area to accommodate the rise in electric vehicle ownership.

Guardian - San Francisco Bay to be electric car capital

Guardian - California switches on to an electric future

Hypermiling is not easy but it is necessary

2008-11-20T13:18:00.003Z

Patrick Barkham gave hypermiling a try in a 2-litre diesel Ford S-Max. After almost 8 miles of city driving, hill starts, mountain tracks and motorways, he could only manage 24mpg.

His errors included attempting to coast his neutral gear. Not only does coasting in neutral use more fuel than costing in gear, it is also dangerous. He also accelerated too hard and applied the brakes erratically. The key to hypermiling is smooth driving and in that Patrick failed miserably.

Guardian - 'If it was possible to fail - I failed'

Increasing usage of car clubs

2008-11-02T13:36:00.002Z

The recent high fuel prices have forced many to look to car clubs for transportation. A car club allows a person to drive on a pay-as-you-go basis, this obviating the need to own a vehicle.

Even though fuel prices have fallen in line with the fall in oil prices, the credit crunch still makes it hard for people to make ends meet. Joining a car club instead of owning a car reduces the cost of ownership for the cash strapped motorist.

Guardian - Cash-strapped motorists turn to car sharing

£100 million boost for electric vehicles

2008-10-31T19:29:00.002Z

The UK government is planning to invest in electric public service vehicles for the post office, police and government departments to speed up the introduction of low-emission vehicles on Britain's roads.

Some 22% of Britain's carbon emissions comes from transport and the hope is to produce vehicles that emit less than 50g CO2/km.

Guardian - £100m road to electric motoring ... police, post office and politicians step off the gas

Tesla in trouble

2008-10-17T12:47:00.002+01:00

Tesla Motors, maker of the 125mph, electric roadster has hit financial problems. The company is currently losing money and is about to reduce their workforce to save costs. The credit crunch is making the financing of their next vehicle, an electric saloon car, problematic.

Guardian - Electric car manufacturer hit by financial crisis

UK petrol price below £1 a litre for first time in over a year

2008-10-16T22:53:00.003+01:00

Not since December 2007 has the price of petrol been this low. Since the credit crunch plunged the world into recession the price of oil has halved from near $150 per barrel to less than $75 per barrel.

With economies in decline there will be less need for oil and so the price has dropped. Drivers are now seeing a fall in fuel prices.

However, this will only be temporary. The economic recession will end and demand for oil will push the price to a new record.

BBC - Retailers push petrol to below £1

MPG marathon

2008-10-16T22:48:00.002+01:00

A four hundred mile race was held on British roads. The winner was not the fastest, nor the first to arrive at the finish line.

The race was to find the most efficient driver, who could drive the most miles per gallon in their car.

The winner was expected to drive over 80mpg in an ordinary factory built car.

BBC - The race to save fuel

Bio-diesel breakthrough

2008-10-01T11:56:00.003+01:00

One criticism of bio-fuels is that their production takes up farmland that would be used to grow food. This has caused massive food price rises and caused many around the world to starve.

BP (British Petroleum) has developed bio-diesel from jatropha plants. These plants grow on marginal land that is not suited to food crops and thus does not compete against food production.

Guardian - Biodiesel breakthrough comes at £13m cost to BP-backed firm

When is a hybrid not a hybrid?

2008-09-22T16:22:00.003+01:00

When it is driven incorrectly.

I was driving along the motorway, yesterday. As usual I was hypermiling on the slow lane at 55-60 mph.

My eyes were concentrating on remaining 2 seconds behind the vehicle ahead so I could take my foot off the accelerator if the vehicle in front slowed. I was also concentrating on keeping the engine revving at 4000 rpm, my vehicle's optimum rpm for that gear, speed and most efficient consumption of fuel.

In the middle lane a car flew past at 80 mph. A Toyota Prius hybrid. Obviously the owner of that vehicle is not making the savings he thinks he is. Firstly, the price of the vehicle. If your current vehicle (no matter what the make) is fine to drive then continue to do so until it falls apart. Secondly, driving any car at 80 mph isn't going to be the most efficient use of the vehicle's engine.

Top Gear is a motoring television programme in the UK. A few weeks ago the programme compared a sporty Mercedes coupé with a Prius hybrid. Both cars were sent around a track and the drivers told to do it as fast as they could. The fuel consumption for the Mercedes was poor but the Prius was worse.

Any car has to be driven properly to make the most efficient use of its engine. If hypermiled, the Mercedes would have produced better fuel consumption. The Prius would have beaten the Mercedes if it had been driven properly too.

There is no point in owning a high mileage car if you don't drive it properly. Learn to hypermile.

EcoDrving USA

2008-09-12T08:26:00.001+01:00

Save money on driving and save the planet from carbon emissions by paying a visit to EcoDriving USA.

Composting for biofuel

2008-09-11T23:19:00.002+01:00

Scientists have discovered a bacteria in compost heaps that can produce ethanol, rather than lactic acid, as it breaks down organic matter. Seven million tonnes of surplus straw could produce 10% of UK vehicle fuel.

Daily Telegraph - Compost heaps could produce biofuel

How good at hypermiling are you?

2008-09-10T08:41:00.003+01:00

The UK driving test now includes skills for improving fuel mileage. Examiners will now inform student drivers as to how efficient they are at driving in addition to their road skills.

You won't fail your test for sudden acceleration and braking but you will certainly be informed as to how you can improve.

Guardian - How good an eco-driver are you? Regulator's tips on careful motoring may save £500 a year

A commercial hydrogen injector

2008-08-21T21:49:00.003+01:00

A Japanese company has developed a system that retrofits to existing vehicles and improves fuel efficiency by 30% whilst reducing CO2 emissions by 30%.

The system uses waste heat generated by a vehicle's engine to convert an easily transportable liquid organic hydride (a hydrogen-storing chemical) into a gaseous state. this hydrogen is then fed into the air-intake of the engine.

Many amateurs have built hydrogen generators using electrolysis or the chemical reaction with lye and aluminium. This new system offers a safer commercial method for transporting hydrogen in a vehicle.

Guardian - Cars with a green conscience

Can a petrol-head be an eco-driver?

2008-08-11T14:18:00.003+01:00

With the price of fuel getting higher, even petrol-heads are trying hypermiling techniques.

By adopting less aggressive driving tactics, and keeping your vehicle well-maintained, you can begin to save money on fuel today. There is no need to buy a new vehicle, even the one you have is capable of getting more miles per gallon.

Read more...

Oil 'could hit $200 within years'

2008-08-09T00:24:00.002+01:00

Oil maybe dropping in price at the moment but it could well start rising again and reach $200 per barrel.

Peak oil is the point at which oil production cannot be increased and is due to the fact that we have used up all the cheap oil. In the future, what oil remains will be hard to get and more expensive.

Higher oil prices will mean higher prices for vehicle fuels. New research may bring us new fuels. Until we will all have to learn how to hypermile.

Read more...

Congestion charge failing to cure London gridlock

2008-08-07T01:03:00.003+01:00

London's traffic congestion is now as bad as before the congestion charge was introduced in 2002.

Although 70,000 fewer vehicles enter the area, there is less road than in 2002 so congestion is on the increase.

Read more...

Green pond algae 'could be made into biofuel'

2008-08-04T21:48:00.002+01:00

Saphire Energy, a US company, has claimed that it can make 'green crude oil' from pond algae. In so doing they claim to avoid the 'fuel versus food' argument that is raging because grain and vegetable oil crops are being diverted to fuel producers.

Read more...

A cheaper way of making hydrogen?

2008-08-02T14:14:00.004+01:00

Scientists have developed a new technique to produce hydrogen from water. The process copies photosynthesis in plants and provides an efficient way to store energy.

A catalyst made from cobalt and phosphorus is used to split water at room temperature with the aid of electricity generated from solar cells. At night, when the sun is down, stored hydrogen can produce electricity using a fuel cell or an internal combustion engine coupled to a generator.

At present solar cells only produce electricity during the day and store electricity for the night in expensive batteries. The new catalytic system would allow users to to power their homes and vehicles 24 hours a day.

Read more...

What is going to power our cars?

2008-08-01T23:15:00.003+01:00

With oil in decline the race is on to find the next commodity that will permit us to continue driving. For electric vehicles that commodity is lithium and will be needed in great quantities to make the batteries that will power us down the road.

The Tesla Roadster uses 6000 lithium ion cells to produce its high-end performance but will the estimated global reserve of between 14 and 28 million tonnes of lithium be enough?

Read more...

Carmaker GM loses another $15.5bn

2008-08-01T14:11:00.002+01:00

General Motors has lost another $15.5bn whilst restructuring itself, as Americans turn away from gas guzzling vehicles.

Sales of large engined vehicles, such as SUVs, have plummeted in the face of higher fuel costs. Drivers are turning to smaller, economic vehicles that are more efficient and give better mileage.

Read more...

Spain to cut speed limit in bid to reduce oil imports

2008-07-31T12:21:00.003+01:00

It has long been recognised that reducing your vehicle's speed also reduces fuel consumption. Your slower journey may take longer than your fellow drivers but you will use less fuel than they over the same distance.

To reduce oil dependence, and make travel more energy efficient, the Spanish government is to introduce a 50 mph speed limit. In so doing, Spain hopes to reduce oil consumption by over 40 million barrels, some 4 billion euros.

Read more...

Taking to the road in a G-Wiz

2008-07-28T14:29:00.003+01:00

Tonight on BBC1 television at 8:30pm there will a programme about electric cars. Reporter, Jane Corbin, takes to the streets of London where a G-Whiz attracts no road tax, zero congestion charge and can pay for itself in just one year.

Read more...

Carmaker Mini plans to bring electric models to US

2008-07-23T17:06:00.005+01:00

With Americans ditching their traditionally large vehicles for smaller ones, British manufacturer Mini is to add electric versions of its vehicle to the US market. This follows massive oil price rises and a fall in demand for SUVs and other such large engined vehicles.

The new model is expected to be displayed at the Paris Motor Show in October.

Read more...

British Motor Show goes green

2008-07-23T13:11:00.002+01:00

Video from the Green Village at the British International Motor Show. Includes a Lotus sports car with biodegradable components made form hemp, and solar cells in the roof to power various electrical systems.

View video...

Ford Fiesta Econetic 1.4 diesel

2008-07-22T15:50:00.005+01:00

The Ford Fiesta Econetic has a 1.4 litre diesel engine and emits only 98 g/km of carbon. This makes the vehicle one of the lowest carbon emitters in the world and puts it in the lowest road tax band, at £35 per year. The Fiesta will do as much as 76 mpg on the open road.

Read more...

Brown to call for more green cars

2008-07-22T12:00:00.004+01:00

The UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown is visiting the British International Motor Show to call for more electric and low carbon vehicles. Currently, these types of vehicles make up 1% of current road vehicles. The Prime Minister said electric and low carbon vehicles will have to become a 'common sight' on the road if the UK is to meet its target on carbon emissions.

However, for most people the cost of learning to hypermile is a much cheaper option to the cost of trading in a current vehicle.

Read more...

Cars powered by rubbish 'in two years time'

2008-07-21T13:50:00.002+01:00

A chemical company plans to make bio-ethanol from biodegradable waste.

The process produces bio-ethanol by adding a biological catalyst to carbon monoxide and hydrogen, which are produced by burning the biodegradable waste.

This process is a better way to make bio-ethanol than using grain as the process does does not compete with food producers for a food staples.

Recently, we have seen a lot of food price inflation due to competition between food and fuel manufacturers for grain. The new method, also known as second-generation bio-fuel, will reduce pressure on food prices.

Read more...

Motor show defies economic gloom

2008-07-21T12:55:00.006+01:00

The British International Motor Show starts this week. There will be a dedicated electric vehicle village, where the new Lightning will be on display.

Conventional manufacturers will be displaying low emission vehicles that output less than 140g/km of carbon and are thus liable only for the lowest road tax band.

Read more...

Show website - British International Motor Show

Golf carts on the open road

2008-07-18T20:21:00.003+01:00

In warmer climes and where journeys are short, some are turning to golf carts to save on fuel. You can even have them pimped up at a specialist coach works that specialise in golf carts.

However, I wouldn't recommend a golf cart for open roads with fast traffic. A golf cart would not be able to keep up with the flow of traffic. The cart would not offer much protection to occupants if involved in a crash.

Read more...

The Smart ed electric vehicle

2008-07-17T21:38:00.007+01:00

You have probably seen those little sawn-off vehicles called Smart cars. They are all petrol engined but a soon to be released vehicle is the Smart ed (electric drive) with a top speed of 60 mph and a range of 70 miles, an equivalent of 300 mpg.

If a small inner city car is what you are looking for then the Smart ed may be for you. Of course, only after you have run the last bit of use out of your current hypermiled car.

Read more...

Hypermiling: Zen in the art of eco-driving

2008-07-17T21:33:00.002+01:00

Even motor racing drivers are using hypermiling techniques and during a race too!

"...last month the US NASCAR racing star Dale Earnhardt Jr broke a long losing streak - not by trouncing his competition, but by saving fuel.

His win at the Michigan International Speedway was down to "hypermiling", a driving technique designed to eke out every last mile from a tank of fuel.

Earnhardt drove the final 110 miles (55 times around a two-mile track) without refuelling. At his last pit stop, his team estimated he'd need to refuel six laps before the end of the race.

What did Earnhardt do? He simply switched off his engine and coasted to the finish line, running out of fuel almost immediately after winning.

It was an unconventional way to win a race. But when asked about his technique Earnhardt replied, "Everybody's doing it."

Merely fuelling our addiction

2008-07-16T15:51:00.004+01:00

The UK government has delayed a decision to add 2p to fuel duty. Widely believed to be a voting winning attempt by an unpopular government, there are those who think fuel should be expensive.

The reasoning is that the sooner fuel becomes too expensive the sooner new technology will replace existing fuels. Also, that a decrease in fuel usage is better for an environment suffering from climate change due to fossil fuel use.

Eventually, the government will increase fuel duty and fuel will be yet more expensive. Save fuel now by changing the way you drive.

Read more...

Keep your eye on the rev counter

2008-07-15T22:34:00.001+01:00

Every engine has a range at which it is most efficient. At this point you will get the greatest number of miles per gallon of fuel.

When driving your vehicle, you will be within the speed limit and in the highest gear that will permit your vehicle to rev at about 4000 rpm. The optimal rpm is slightly different from engine to engine but for most vehicles it is ideal at 55-60 mph on an open road.

This weekend I drove on the motorway. The speed limit is 70 mph but I stuck to between 55 and 60 mph. I concentrated on keeping the rev counter at 4000 rpm and stayed in the slow lane.

On the two lanes to the right of me, cars were flying past at 70 mph and above. Over the 70 miles I drove, the other cars beat me by 25 minutes. However, in doing so they used about 20% more fuel than I did.

On the 140 mile round trip I came across only one other car doing as I did. I wonder if others will become hypermilers or just keep going as they are until they can no longer afford to drive.

When hypermiling on motorways, make sure to set out earlier and keep to 4000 rpm. This will ensure you get the most out of the fuel you buy and arrive on time.

A wrong turn on 'road tax'

2008-07-14T16:15:00.000+01:00

The UK government's increase on road tax punishes the poor more than the rich.

Less well-off drivers have little choice when it comes to choosing a vehicle. Often they have to buy a cheaper second-hand model. A model that will suffer badly under the new tax structure.

Wealthier drivers can buy any vehicle that takes their fancy and write off the tax as part of the pleasure of owning their dream.

As well-off drivers dump their polluting vehicles onto the second-hand market, in favour of the latest green cars, the less well-off drivers will only have high tax and high pollution second-hand cars to choose from.

Read more...

Should I hyrdogen boost my car?

2008-07-11T16:01:00.000+01:00

If you have an old vehicle going spare that you don't mind destroying then go ahead. However, if you have a new vehicle, or only the one, then a simple answer to your question is, "no".

With fuel prices increasing everyday the Internet is littered with adverts for "fuel your car with water". For a modest outlay you will get all the parts to make a water electrolyser that will generate hydrogen for your engine.

The first thing to point out is that any hydrogen produced will not replace all the petrol in your tank. At best it will increase the overall octane of your existing fuel passing through the engine but not by much.

There are two problems with hydrogen gas. One, it's an explosive gas. Remember the Hindenburg? The second problem is that hydrogen just doesn't like metal.

Hydrogen molecules are so small they can work their way through metal. This leads to metal embrittlement and your engine begins to fall apart. So, if you don't mind spending $100 to destroy a $10,000 vehicle then go ahead make an Internet scam artist a happy man.

Moderate your speed

2008-07-11T15:42:00.000+01:00

First and foremost, obey all speed limits. Regardless of how good a driver you think you are, speed limits have a purpose. Often, you will find yourself travelling along a road for the first time and you don't know what lies ahead. Obeying the speed limit will give you thinking time in a busy, built-up area.

Road surveyors have gone to the trouble of judging the correct speed limit for a section of road. Even if you are familiar with a particular road, speed limit signs are there for your safety, and for the safety of all road users, and pedestrians walking beside the road.

Outside of built-up areas the speed limit will be higher. In the UK this can be 60 or 70 mph. However, car engines do not work efficiently at speeds over 60 mph. The most efficient speed is different for each vehicle and its engine but, as a rule, travelling between 50 and 60 mph will optimise your fuel consumption.

Road tax increase 'will hit 9.4m'

2008-07-11T15:17:00.000+01:00

Road tax increases will affect over 9 million drivers in the UK. The government will be increasing the road tax for 43% of vehicles made since 2001 based on those vehicles carbon emissions. The rise in tax, in addition to fuel price increases, will make driving all the more expensive.

Vehicles registered before 2001 are not affected so it is wise to keep hold of your current vehicle for as long as possible. Even trading in a vehicle for fuel efficiency reasons is not necessary if you learn to drive using the hypermiling techniques on this website.

Read more...

Car clubs

2008-07-10T16:11:00.000+01:00

For many, the cost of vehicle ownership is too great a burden to bear. Instead, many people are joining car clubs, in which they pay a subscription to the club for the right to drive a vehicle owned by the club.

Joining a car club reduces the members' tax and vehicle maintenance burden as the burden is spread amongst the entire membership rather than if the vehicle had a single owner.

Members book the time they want to drive online and then use an electronic pass card to access any of the vehicles in the club.

Read more...

Pay as you go motoring

2008-07-10T16:07:00.000+01:00

The leader of the minority UK Liberal Democratic Party has suggested that vehicle and fuel tax should be abolished in favour of charging people for using motorways.

Read more...

Easy does it

2008-07-10T11:44:00.000+01:00

After you have looked after your vehicle through good maintenance and by reduced unnecessary weight, it is time to work on your driving style. Nothing wastes fuel more than a heavy foot, both on the accelerator and on the brake.

Every time you press the brake pedal you are wasting fuel. Think of it this way, fuel makes the wheels go round so if you stop the wheels from turning then fuel has been wasted to heat your brake pads and not to make your vehicle go forward.

The key to hypermiling is in using the accelerator pedal to get your vehicle up to a speed where the brake pedal is hardly used. Instead, of using the brakes you rely on engine braking and only use the brakes where absolutely necessary.

Accelerate smoothly, up to the speed limit, without stabbing at the accelerator pedal. Next, take your foot off the accelerator and use the momentum of the vehicle to keep it moving. When needed, give the car another pulse of acceleration to keep safely within the flow of traffic. So long as you are not above the speed limit then the only problem is for the speeding tailgaters behind you.

As you are driving along, look ahead at possible hazards that would normally force you to apply your brakes. Look out for traffic lights, junctions or a bend in the road where you can't see what is on the other side. Be ready for obstacles such as vehicles bunching up ahead or a vehicle slowing down. As soon as you see a possible braking situation ahead, take your foot off the accelerator and let the vehicle slow down by itself.

Whilst approaching the hazard determine if you will need to apply the brake as you coast up. The hazard may go as you get closer and you can then apply the accelerator again, having not wasted any fuel on the brakes.

Remember to travel just fast enough to get you up to a point where the car would have to stop. If you are driving along familiar roads you will soon learn how to coast up to traffic lights and your vehicle will stop itself at the white line. Ignore the petrol heads around you. If someone wants to race then let them overtake. When you have been hypermiling for a while, you will notice that you often catch up with these people at the next junction. That is the best, safest and legal way to get back at these people.

By using this driving technique you will make sure that as much fuel as possible is used to make your vehicle go forward. You will reduce the amount of fuel wasted on heating the brake pads.

A hydrogen refilling station in your home

2008-07-10T10:51:00.000+01:00

Hydrogen as a vehicle fuel is a long way from being a reality but many see it as a replacement for oil based fuels.

At present, hydrogen is made from natural gas, which does nothing to alleviate our dependence on increasingly more expensive fossil fuels.

The only future for hydrogen is one where the gas is made from renewable resources, such as solar or wind-powered water electrolysis.

UK based ITM power has recently set up a "hydrogen home" to demonstrate an electrolysis system for producing power for the home and hydrogen for a fuel-cell powered vehicle.

Read more...

Lightning electric sports car

2008-07-09T17:29:00.000+01:00

Lightning is a British electric sports car offering a top speed of 130mph. Included in the price is a loudspeaker with "vroom-vroom" noise for those who miss the sound of an internal combustion engine.

The sports car has an electric motor in each wheel, giving 700 bhp to accelerate the vehicle from 0-60mph in 4 seconds.

At £120,000 ($240,000) it certainly won't be bought by anyone wanting to save money on petrol. Hopefully, the technology will trickle down to more affordable vehicles we can buy when our current vehicles cease to function.

Read more...

Vehicle maintenance

2008-07-09T16:36:00.000+01:00

A well maintained car will permit a driver to get the most out of hypermiling. Refer to your vehicle's manual for maintenance instructions.

Check list.

1) Tyres are not under-inflated.

2) Wheels are balanced and aligned so your vehicle runs as smoothly as possible.

3) Brake pads operate smoothly so the car doesn't slow down erratically when the brakes are applied. Brake fluid is topped up to recommended mark.

4) Engine oil above minimum mark. You can use a recommended low viscosity oil so the engine doesn't have to battle against a more viscose oil.

Filling up - carry only enough fuel for the journey

2008-07-09T13:56:00.001+01:00

Fuel keeps your engine running but fuel is also weight that slows your vehicle down. To get the optimal miles per gallon never carry more fuel than you need.

If your main drive is a commute to and from work then you will know exactly how much fuel you use on the journey. You will also know where the refilling station is. Why carry a full tank of fuel if a journey is only going to need 10% of the fuel?

With fuel prices seeming to rise everyday, you may be tempted to fill your tank to the top at the current low price. If you want to buy fuel at a low price then it is better to fill a few jerry cans and leave them at home until they are needed.

Carrying excess weight will never permit your car to reach its optimal MPG rating. Reduce the amount of fuel you carry to keep your vehicle's overall weight to the minimum.

Think before buying another vehicle

2008-07-09T12:01:00.001+01:00

With fuel prices beginning to hurt, many are considering whether or not to buy a new vehicle. My advice is not to be too hasty. Remember, any money you spend on another vehicle is money that could be spent fuelling your current vehicle.

Do not get fooled by talk about getting a vehicle with a better miles per gallon (MPG) rating. By hypermiling you can increase the MPG rating of your vehicle and it will cost you nothing.

Doubling a vehicle's efficiency from 10 MPG to 20 MPG through hypermiling saves more fuel than by selling your 25 MPG vehicle for a 50 MPG one. In fact, improving an existing vehicle's efficiency from 10 MPG to 11 MPG through hypermiling will save more petrol than by replacing a 33 MPG vehicle with a new one that does 50 MPG, not to mention the savings in cost.

You can understand the principle by stating a vehicle's efficiency in terms of a set distance of 1000 miles. Over 1000 miles a 10 MPG vehicle will burn 100 gallons of fuel, a 20 MPG vehicle will burn only 50 gallons over the same distance, a 25 MPG vehicle will use up 40 gallons, while a 50 MPG vehicle will use 20 gallons. As you can see, doubling your vehicle's efficiency from 25 to 50 MPG only saves you 20 gallons over 1000 miles.

Think carefully before buying another vehicle. Change the way you drive first, keep your vehicle in good condition, plan your journeys and consider the cost of buying another vehicle. If you have done those simple things then you might not be too hasty to buy another vehicle.

Nine of the best green cars

2008-07-08T11:11:00.000+01:00

A list of the nine best "green cars" has been made to highlight ways of saving on fuel. However, the list probably doesn't justify trading in your vehicle until it is on its last legs. Learning to hypermile will probably save you just as much until it is really time to buy a new vehicle.

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All new cars in the UK to be electric or hydrid by 2020

2008-07-08T10:59:00.000+01:00

The UK Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, wants all new vehicles to be electric or hybrid by 2020. In the meantime he wants all of us to learn eco-driving or hypermiling techniques to save on fuel.

By September of this year, all learner drivers will have to learn "green driving skills" as part of their training.

However, the Prime Minister has run into controversy as many new diesel cars are more efficient than petrol/electric hybrids.

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Wind resistance

2008-07-07T12:27:00.000+01:00

As your vehicle travels along a road it battles against forces trying to bring it to a stop. The more you reduce these forces acting against your vehicle's motion the less fuel you need to drive your vehicle.

One of the forces against your vehicle is wind resistance. When considering which vehicle to buy always bear in mind wind resistance. An SUV or truck might look good but because of its high profile the vehicle will not cut through the air as efficiently as a sleeker vehicle.

If you already own a vehicle then you will hamper your vehicle's ability to move through the air by carrying things on the roof. If you are not using a roof rack then remove it to reduce wind resistance. Anything that can go inside your vehicle should not be carried on the roof.

Keep those tyres pumped up

2008-07-06T12:14:00.000+01:00

A vehicle in motion has to battle against many things trying to slow it down. You will have already reduced your vehicles weight by removing all non-essential items. To reduce wind resistance you will have removed a roof rack that is not being used. The next thing to consider is your vehicle rolling resistance.

As you travel, your vehicle's tyres are contact with the road. The amount of tyre rubber in contact with the road affects the rolling resistance (the resistance to forward motion) of your vehicle. The more rubber in contact with the road, the greater the rolling resistance and the more fuel your vehicle needs per mile travelled.

By keeping your tyres pumped up to the recommended pressure you reduce the amount of rubber in contact with the road to the safest minimum. Consult your vehicle's manual to find the correct pressure for your tyres.

Some people take this further and pump their tyres up to beyond the vehicle manufacturer's recommended pressure and closer to the tyre manufacturer's recommended pressure. It is something that I do but I would not recommend the procedure to people that who are unsure of what they are doing.

Car pooling - A journey shared is a fuel bill halved

2008-07-05T22:30:00.000+01:00

Car pooling is an excellent way to lighten the burden on your wallet. If you have work colleagues living nearby, or neighbours who work near you, then why not take it turns for each of you to drive everyone to work in the morning.

Most journeys are driven by single occupants, a lot of fuel for a single passenger. When you take passengers with you then you immediately reduce the fuel used per passenger.

Taking a single passenger with you will almost double the passenger miles per gallon. The saving won't result in halving the fuel used per passenger as the passenger has weight that the car must carry but there will certainly be a saving.

Reduce your load

2008-07-04T22:25:00.000+01:00

The weight of your vehicle affects its fuel efficiency. The more load you vehicle's engine has to carry then the less efficient it is. Reducing your vehicle's load increases the number miles per gallon your vehicle can travel.

1) Do not carry anything that you are not going to need on your trip. If you are not going to the golf club today then why carry your clubs?

2) Fuel your car only for the journey ahead. Don't fill the fuel tank for a short journey. Fuel is weight that has to be carried by your car.

3) However, do carry a spare tyre and basic tools in case of an emergency breakdown.

The craze that made even Clarkson join the slow lane

2008-07-03T17:13:00.000+01:00

From the Guardian newspaper

"I can sense the motorists behind me fuming as I coax my car from 0-60 in approximately 5,000 seconds. But I don't care: I am now a hypermiler."

Why hypermile?

2008-07-02T22:21:00.000+01:00

There are a variety of reasons why you might want to hypermile.

1) You struggle to pay for fuel and want to make your fuel last longer.

2) Driving using hypermiling techniques can lengthen the lifespan of your vehicle by decreasing wear and tear on your vehicle.

3) Hypermiling can lead to safer driving.

4) You may have environmental worries about your driving, in which case getting more miles per gallon from your car reduces the amount of carbon you are putting into the atmosphere every time you drive.

What is hypermiling?

2008-07-01T22:16:00.000+01:00

With the cost of petrol (gasoline) getting ever more expensive, many drivers are finding it harder to afford the cost of driving. Hypermiling is a variety of techniques a driver can use to maximise the fuel efficiency of their motor vehicle.

Through use of these driving techniques, a driver can get the most out of the fuel they buy, and the vehicle they own, without having to trade in their vehicle for a new model.