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Tuesday, 29 May 2007 |
 | Brandon Brown
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At last, it’s summertime. It’s a time of warm weather, swimming, hiking, baseball, cookouts and the ever-popular activity of traveling.
While the other pastimes seem to be likely activities for the summer, one look at the daunting price of gasoline is enough to make the most gung-ho globetrotters a bit apprehensive about loosening the reigns on their Ford Excursion for a trip.
However, I’ve got good news for the brokenhearted vacationers and for students who watch their bank accounts atrophy away at the pump.
You can save hundreds of dollars a year on gas just by changing your driving style.
The
recent surge of gas prices has created a new eco-cult of drivers who
take efficiency to another level. They are supporters of a new
phenomenon called “hypermiling.”
“Hypermiling” is taking extraordinary measures toward achieving maximum fuel efficiency in an automobile.
The followers of “hypermiling” are not bashful about their
conservation. Some are noted for pushing their car out of their
driveway and parking at the highest point in a parking lot in order to
let momentum carry the car toward the exit.
Okay, so these practices may be a bit eccentric, but many customs of “hypermilers” are not as tedious and are very rewarding.
The keys to saving money with fuel are patience and planning.
We are all guilty, at one time or another, of weaving in and out of
traffic and redlining our engines from stoplight to stoplight like we
committed grand theft auto. The truth is that driving like Dale Jr.
doesn’t pay at the pump.
What’s the rush?
Jackrabbit starts and screeching brake stops burn about as much fuel as
Saddam Hussein. Edmunds.com, a renowned vehicle tester, claims that by
simply cutting down on accelerating 0 to 60 from ten to fifteen seconds
will increase savings astronomically.
According to fueleconomy.gov, aggressive driving, such as speeding,
rapid acceleration and hard braking, can lower gas mileage by 33
percent on the highway. Using cruise control eliminates unnecessary
speed fluctuations.
As a repeat speeding offender, I know how difficult it is cope with the disease diagnosed as “lead foot.”
However, government studies show that regardless of the car’s fuel
economy, gas mileage usually decreases rapidly at speeds above 60 mph.
Driving under the speed limit is a hard concept to grasp for most. If
you are truly dedicated to saving money at the pump, it will require
some time planning in order to be punctual.
Aside from driving prudently, basic maintenance on your vehicle can
result with fewer trips to the pump. Replacing a clogged air filter can
improve gas mileage up to 10 percent, as well as safeguard
your engine. Keeping your tires properly inflated is simple upkeep that cuts fuel costs drastically.
When you do make that painful trip to the gas station, try to do so during the coolest time of the day.
Gasoline is most dense in the early morning or late evening.
One of the simplest and most overlooked alternatives to pouring your money away is to take turns carpooling with someone.
What a novel concept!
You are sure to eliminate the squandering away of your tank by filling
up those four other seats in your SUV. It is a sensible option that is
inconvenient at worst.
While these tactics will surely save you from frivolous spending at the
pump, the largest benefactor is driving a fuel-efficient vehicle.
It’s highly unlikely that the recent price surge of gasoline will make
everyone sell his or her cars and drop $15,000 on a new hybrid.
However, driving a car that gets just 10 more miles per gallon can
boost your bank account significantly.
At $3 a gallon, the difference between a car that gets 20 mpg and one
that gets 30 mpg is $744 per year, assuming 1,500 miles of driving.
That’s over $3,000 dollars in five years.
We can continue griping about spike in gas prices or we can adapt ourselves to drive more efficiently.
That doesn’t necessarily mean dumping your ride for a more economical
vehicle, but when it boils down to more money in your pocket, why
wouldn’t you?
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