What is a Hypermiler?

I came across what I thought was a new word the other day "Hypermiler." I had just come home and caught the end of some show or documentary on the TV and it kept referring to this strange word "Hypermiler." Now as I didn't know what it meant but the fact that it had something to do with saving gas in your car I decided to do some research.

The first chance that I got, I switched on my computer and googled the word "Hypermiler." Google immediately came up with several hundred links, and obviously I was very surprised to find so many references to what I had thought was a fairly new word. Impressed with the amount of information I started clicking onto some of the links to find out more.

The words "Hypermiler" and "Hypermiling" seem to have been coined by a guy called Wayne Gerdes. It seems that Wayne is one of the many people trying everything they can think of to squeeze every last drop of gas from their cars. The whole idea is to get the best MPG as possible from any vehicle. It's been reported that Wayne once achieved 100 MPG from a standard issue Ford Pick-up truck.

It seems that there are now hundreds of drivers out there trying to achieve the same results as the hypermiler. There is nothing special about these people; they are just your average everyday drivers looking for ways to increase gas mileage in their cars by any means possible. The ever rising cost of gas has become so bad lately that trying to save any little amount has become an obsession with many people.

Some of the tricks used by the hypermiler are things like "coasting," which involves accelerating their vehicle to the legal speed limit and then coasting as far as they can without further acceleration. This is obviously very effective on downhill or sloping sections of highway but can also work on flat runs as well. By making sure that your tires are inflated to the correct pressures, and that you have no defect to slow down your progress (such as binding or sticking breaks, or worn bearings etc) it is surprising just how much gas you can save.

Another trick they use is drafting, (following so closely behind the driver in front that it cuts down on wind resistance) but this can be dangerous, not to mention very annoying to the person in front. It has even led to cases of road rage and accidents caused by the driver in front breaking suddenly for no apparent reason other than pure frustration caused by the close proximity of the guy behind.

There are however a lot of safer options for anyone looking for ways to increase gas mileage, simple things like making sure your car is properly serviced, so that it is running at its best. Removing any excess weight, all those things in the trunk that you have been carrying around but never use, (not your spare wheel or emergency equipment though.) Any of these little things will help you improve your fuel economy. So even if you don't go to the extremes of the hypermiler you can still find ways to increase gas mileage and save a few dollars.