Hypermiler

Warp Stealth is another frequently used term in the Hypermiling dictionary.  Now there is a long, scientific explanation of Warp Stealth, but it can easily be put into simple terms. Warp Stealth is the practice of finding just the right speed with your hybrid, where your electric motor is engaged and the gas engine is spinning freely. This is a higher speed technique and will work for speeds around 40 - 55mph. Warp Stealth is a fantastic way to save on gas, but it will take a little getting-to-know your Prius or hybrid so you can feel out the engine and find that sweet spot. Once you get Warp Stealth down, you can use it frequently and increase your average mpg. This hypermiling technique will only work on hybrid cars that feature an electric motor. A regular gasoline engine does not have the capability to allow you to try Warp Stealth. This may just be one more good reason to go out and buy a hybrid today!

Ridge Riding. Another common hypermiling term coined by hypermiling guru Wayne Gerdes. Ridge riding is a simple tip that can help hypermilers save gas on a rainy day, and stay a little bit safer. The process of ridge riding is simple - drive your car on the far right of the road - almost over the white line. By doing this, you accomplish 2 things - you notify cars behind you that you're driving at a slow speed - especially helpful when weather conditions add extra danger to being on the road, and more importantly, you keep your car's tires out of the grooves in the road that develop from heavy travel. Water puddles develop in the grooves during a storm, and cause your car to expend additional energy to drive through them. By staying on a flat surface and avoiding kicking up water with your tires, you'll increase your car's overall MPG. This trick probably won't save a hypermiler thousands of dollars, but its a safe and easy hypermiling technique that anyone can easily master.

The forced auto stop is a staple in the Hypermiler's menu of gas saving techniques. It is also one of the more scrutinized hypermiling techniques as it can be extremely dangerous both for the driver of the vehicle and everyone else on the road.

Here's the basic way a FAS (forced auto stop) works - you put your car in neutral and turn off the engine as you coast down a hill, then re-engage the engine and continue driving once you begin to slow down. By completely turning off the engine, you use no fuel at all, and it is a definite way to increase the MPG of your car.

This technique is particularly dangerous in standard internal combustion vehicles. The hybrid engine works quite differently than a regular car engine, so this technique is definitely more effective in a hybrid vehicle. The thing that makes this so dangerous is often you risk losing complete control over your car. You risk locking your steering wheel and losing the ability to break. Restarting the engine can also potentially cause trouble as well, and possible damage to your engine over time.

All in all, you may be able to save MPG by using the FAS with a standard engine, but try it at your own risk. It may not be worth the extra gas money you'll save.

The Pulse and Glide. A common term in most hypermilers' personal dictionary, has actually been around for quite some time. The pulse and glide manuver is well known for a 2005 stunt in Pittsburg, PA. 5 men took a Prius with a full tank of gas and drove it around an Interstate loop using the pulse and glide technique the whole time. The 5 men managed to get an amazing 1397 miles from 1 tank of gas, or about 110 miles per gallon.

This hypermiling technique was developed specifically for the Prius. The idea behind it is simple - accelerate until the car reaches 40 mpg, then slowly ease off the gas until the Prius engine shuts off and the electric motor is disengaged and allow the car to coast. Once you slow back down to 25 - 30 mph, repeat the process. By doing this, it means your engine only needs to use fuel for acceleration, and nothing else, so you no longer burn excess gas by driving along at the same speed.

This is a trick that is generally most effective for hybrid cars, as their engines are perfect for just this sort of thing. By practicing this technique, you can consistantly get amazing gas mileage, and the danger level is low. The repeated acceleration may eventually wear on your engine, but if properly cared for, the reward will likely outweigh the risk.

Streamlining your vehicle is one of the most elementary aspects of hypermiling. Hypermilers will go to great lengths to make their car more aerodynamic and reduce drag. Your car can easily have as much a couple hundred pounds of excess weight just sitting there. Try going through your car with a fine tooth comb and removing any extra junk you don't use on a regular basis.

Sandbags, or heavy bags of solar salt, winter accessories like windshield scrapers, books, extra bottles of motor oil and other car maintenance products, water jugs, unused child accessories like strollers, or even piles of papers and manuals in your glove compartment are just a few of the things you might find. What about garbage? Are you the type who throws bottles, wrappers and cigarette packs on your back seat floor? Give your car a thorough cleaning and you can seriously increase your gas mileage. You could even consider removing your spare tire and equipment. Although it's generally a good idea to keep a spare handy, if you aren't going on any long trips, and if you have a AAA membership or an equivilant in case of emergency, removing your spare tire can free up some extra weight. Are you driving a Van or Minivan with several rows of seats that you don't often use? Remove the extra seats and store them in your garage. Once you know how to easily remove and replace seats, you'll be able to do it in a snap, and removing those heavy rows of seats is a sure fire way to streamline your vehicle.

Although it's not going to double your mpg, smart hypermilers know that a streamlined car is one of the basic rules of hypermiling. There's no sense in bothering with any advanced techniques if you're still driving around with hundreds of extra pounds of weight in your vehicle. This is a real simple hypermiling technique that will help you get on your way to fuel efficiency.