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It’s a wonder that more of us aren’t awed by the world. Traveling across the country takes a few hours when it would have normally taken months, even years. Going to work or going on vacation is as simple as getting behind the wheel and choosing your destination. The ease of travel comes at a price, in this case a financial price. Gas has done quite the number on the average American’s wallet. Turning to Alternatives In an article, Bianna Golodryga writes about the growing gas problem and suggests several alternatives people have taken. In her article, Bianna Golodryga notes that the unmanageable gas prices have affected all forms of travel. Rising fuel costs are having a big impact on airline profits, which translates to higher fees and ticket prices for travelers. In order to combat the rising gas prices, Bianna Golodryga suggests some tried-and-true methods, such as carpooling. A practice called “slugging” has become popular in some areas. “Slugging” is essentially legal hitchhiking as people get a free ride from a stranger and the driver gets to use the carpool lane. Of course, drivers also have the option of purchasing a hybrid or alternative fuel vehicle. Cars that don’t use gas tend to be a bit pricey but can be highly cost-effective in the long-term. Hypermiling Hypermiling is the practice of maximizing a car’s fuel efficiency through various driving techniques and practices. Many practitioners of hypermiling can get anywhere from 50 to 90 miles to the gallon. The extreme example sees the hypermiling driver alternating between slow cruising and fast turns. A few things we could learn from hypermiling: The main principle of hypermiling is to use the entirety of your car’s energy to generate forward momentum. Leaving a healthy space cushion between you and the car in front of you, you should have enough time to coast to a stop without stepping on the brakes. It’s a good idea to keep a record of your gas mileage using your odometer to track how many miles you can go on a single tank of gas. You can then get a general understanding of your car’s fuel consumption over time and adjust when necessary. You should learn to accelerate slowly and smoothly over a greater distance. The longer you take to achieve a certain speed, the less fuel it requires to reach that speed. Cruise control can help you slowly reach your speed can help regulate accelerations. Avoid idling or otherwise staying still while the engine is running. Avoid sitting in traffic. If you see a red light ahead, take your foot off the gas and coast up to it. The number one thing is to drive safely, of course. But implementing some of these tips could help you increase fuel efficiency.
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hypermiling, saving on gas, fuel economy, saving at the pump, bianna golodryga,
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