Can You Combat New Car Prices & Gas Prices with Hypermiling?

There are so many things to consider when it comes to buying a new car. New car price guides don’t always take into consideration how the mileage of a vehicle can affect the overall long term cost of owning that vehicle. In addition to buying a vehicle that gets good MPG, some people are also using hypermiling to push the savings even further.

Hypermiling is a style of driving that attempts to maximize fuel economy by using specific driving techniques. It has been around for a long time but has become increasingly popular due to rising gas prices. The basic idea is to use every possible advantage to get the most MPG and exceed the EPA estimates. While each technique on it’s own might not make a big difference, the combination can.

Hypermiling can be done with any type of vehicle, it does not need to be a hybrid. Some people use hypermiling as an alternate to buying a hybrid, with new car prices still being lower for non hybrid vehicles. Hypermilers claim that using even just a few of these techniques will improve the efficiency of the car and save you money. Some people even consider it a sport and contests are held yearly.

How do hypermilers know that they are increasing their mileage? They keep a record of their gas mileage to see how much they are saving and which techniques seem to be working best by using the odometer to track the miles per tank. You can also purchase a plug in gauge that works on most new cars, to track your fuel use. In the future, cars may have built in gauges designed to assist with hypermiling, this should not affect the new car price, as gauges are generally inexpensive. Honda will be installing a built in instrument in a new hybrid car coming out next year.

Some of the hypermiling techniques are considered dangerous. There has been bad press about the practice due to individuals choosing to use techniques that are both dangerous and unlawful. The Hypermiling Safety Foundation formed in 2008, to educate the public about hypermiling and to encourage safe and lawful driving techniques. They also provide free decals that hypermilers can display on their vehicles, to identify themselves as hypermilers.

The most safe & effective techniques:

• Use cruise control – avoids over using the pedal, cruise control helps to keep a steady pace.


• Use the pedal less – minimize braking, speed up and slow down gradually.


• Pulse & glide – this technique is for hybrid vehicles, to optimize the hybrid engine performance.


• Plan routes – plan the shortest and best route ahead of time, avoid traffic and red lights.


• Avoid using the AC – air conditioning makes the engine work harder which can impact mileage.


• Reduce weight – keep the car and trunk as empty as possible to reduce the weight being carried.


• Maintenance – keep your vehicle well maintained, keep the tires properly inflated, etc.


• Drive slower – speeding uses up more gas, drive the speed limit or a little under.


• Don’t sit idle with engine running – your just wasting gas, turn the car off.


• Riding the white lines – keep out of the worn grooves made by traffic to reduce drag.


• Keep windows closed – especially on the highway, to reduce the wind resistance.

The most dangerous techniques:

• Over inflating the tires to reduce resistance – this is dangerous because it can cause a blowout and loss of control.


• Coasting with the engine off – means you won’t have complete control of the car, it’s not worth the risk.


• Tailgating behind trucks to reduce wind resistance – this is both rude and dangerous.