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Any Hypermilers out There?

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Have you heard of hypermiling

It's a way of increasing your gas mileage -- sometimes astronomically -- by incorporating a few common sense methods in your driving routine.  Some people claim to improve their gas mileage by as much as 35 percent.

I've been experimenting with it the past few weeks.  Mostly, I've been heeding the cruise control recommendation: Accelerate slowly to 25 mph, or whatever speed at which you can use your cruise control, then use the buttons to slowly accelerate to the speed limit.  

I've been getting about 28 mpg, which is about average for my car.   A couple of caveats: My trip to work from Fuquay is not during rush hour, so I'm never stuck in traffic.  Also, about half of my trip is on the highway, which helps.  I don't know how in-town, rush-hour driving would affect my mileage.

Next week, I'm going to try to go back to my regular driving habits to see if my hypermiling efforts were making a significant difference. 

I will say that I found it very difficult to change my driving style.  It's surprising how much of it is habitual.  It's also tough to overcome the psychology of needing to be fastest one on theh highway. 

In the hypermiling mode, you have to be happy going the speed limit in the right lane.  I'm hardwired to be one of those left-lane passers, but I'm more strongly hardwired to be a cheapskate.  I have made significant progress in removing the lead from my right foot.

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