From Bruce Sinclair
Congratulations to Devin Powell for his interesting interview with “hypermiler” Jack Powell (25 October, p 42). It is a subject of which we will become more aware and which we will all have to learn and practice.
However, the interview only went part of the way. A major cause of increased fuel consumer is braking followed by re-accelerating. This can be avoided by driving at very steady speeds, and maintaining momentum on approach to red lights in the expectation that you will have residual momentum when the lights turn green. For lights known to have a long red phase, I turn off the engine. This sometimes displeases the driver behind, who sadly may waste extra fuel energising his horn.
Of course, if one is of such a mind, further fuel savings can be achieved by not slowing down at corners and not stopping at all at red lights. The latter offers added fuel saving during the periods when one’s licence is suspended. These are probably included in the practices that Jack Martin doesn’t teach his kids.
Some drivers get better fuel mileage by selecting routes which avoid traffic lights at all, but the total fuel burn would usually be increased by the added length of their more circuitous route.
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And the ultimate saving is made by not making the trip at all. Remember the posters at UK railway stations motto during the second world war: “Is your trip really necessary?”
From Bryn Glover
I read your interview with Jack Martin on hypermiling with growing irritation. I have been practising economical driving for many years, in a world where, obviously, most people do not. To expect anyone to be won over by the extreme nonsense being peddled by Martin would be quite unreasonable. Barefoot driving, ridge-riding, slip-streaming and tyre hyperinflation (highly dangerous and very expensive on tyres) are simply calculated to put any reasonable person off the notion on the instant.
There are two alternatives which are very easy to apply and which account for the vast bulk of any improvement, as opposed to the infinitesimal changes ridge-riding might bring.
Keep to speed limits and drive where possible at the manufacturer’s recommended cruising speed, about 90 kilometres per hour.
Anticipate the road ahead, and allow the car to slow under friction whenever feasible, that is, use the brakes as little as possible; I can travel for miles along non-motorway roads without a single touch on my brakes.
I drive a 2 litre automatic diesel SEAT Alhambra – not the best vehicle for achieving hypermileages, but needful for my lifestyle with grandchildren. Yet my overall cumulative average is better than 7 litres per 100 km, and I can easily achieve 4.7 l/100km as indicated by the car’s own display.
It really is very easy, and does not involve any of the nonsense Martin proposes. I would not disagree, however, with his implied advice not to use the phone whilst driving.
Cracoe, North Yorkshire, UK
O'Connor, Australian Capital Territory
