Hypermiling Handbook could help UK drivers save £millions

With fuel prices continuing to increase, a new Hypermiling Handbook has been launched to help British motorists use clever driving techniques to improve the miles per gallon they get from their car.

With more than 31 million cars on the UK’s roads, the handbook’s authors claim it could save each individual motorist hundreds of pounds in fuel costs over the course of a year – totalling billions across the whole country.

Hypermiling originated in America and promotes the use of driving techniques that maximise fuel economy. Many simple ideas can be followed by the average motorist making minor changes to their driving habits, saving in some instances up to 40 per cent on fuel costs.

The 22-page handbook, which is available to download free, has been launched by online used car showroom TrustedDealers.co.uk in association with Karl Dyson, the UK’s leading authority on hypermiling.

Karl Dyson, seen as the founder of the trend in the UK, has been hypermiling for nearly four years, and has set up a dedicated website (hypermiler.co.uk) encouraging other British motorists to follow suit. He commented: “The idea of hypermiling makes perfect sense. Fuel prices seem to be pretty much doubling every 10 years so people can’t afford to just ignore the impact that is going to have on their pocket, if not now, then in the future.”

Neil Addley, managing director of TrustedDealers.co.uk, added: “Hypermiling, if done sensibly, can save the average motorist hundreds of pounds every year and also make them a better driver. Unfortunately, a few radical hypermilers have employed extremely dangerous and sometimes illegal techniques, giving the practice a bad reputation in some areas. These include anything from turning the engine off while driving and coasting, leaving them not in full control of the vehicle, to tailgating lorries in an attempt to block the wind, which can be fatal for obvious reasons. There are also more unusual ideas such as driving barefoot to be more in control of the pedals!

“But you don’t have to deploy such extreme techniques to make a substantial difference to the fuel economy of your car. If you start by choosing a car which has relatively good fuel efficiency and then follow some simple tips, you can save massive amounts of money – and it’s also of huge benefit to the environment.”

Tips included in the handbook include everything from optimum driving speeds and how to plan the most fuel efficient journey to picking the perfect parking space and even the best music to help keep your fuel efficiency under control. Specific tips include:

When driving at low speeds on a hot day, use your windows and sunroof to keep cool. But once at higher speeds, it’s worth keeping your windows shut to reduce drag which can hit fuel economy hard. Try not to overuse the air conditioning if possible.

Fuel economy is usually at its best when driving in the highest suitable gear for your speed. Try not to let your revs reach inefficient levels - move up a gear before 2,500rpm in a petrol car and 2,000rpm in a diesel.

Learn to anticipate what other road users are going to do so you can avoid accelerating and braking sharply.

A vehicle’s most efficient speed is generally just after you change into the highest gear. Driving at 85mph uses 25 per cent more fuel than travelling at 70mph.

The handbook is available to download free of charge at:
http://www.trusteddealers.co.uk/file_download/1/HypermilingHandbook.pdf

Or via facebook.com/trusteddealers.