Hypermiling: Advanced Fuel Saving

Techniques used by extreme MPG enthusiasts, adapted for everyday drivers.

What Is Hypermiling?

Hypermiling is the practice of maximizing fuel efficiency through driving techniques. Extreme hypermilers have achieved 100+ MPG in standard Priuses and 50+ MPG in regular sedans.

You don't need to go to extremes. Even basic hypermiling techniques can improve your MPG by 20-40% over typical driving.

The Hypermiling Mindset

Hypermiling is about understanding where fuel goes and minimizing waste.

Where your fuel energy goes:

• 60-70%: Heat loss (unavoidable with internal combustion)
• 10-15%: Air resistance (increases with speed squared)
• 5-10%: Rolling resistance (tires, road surface)
• 5-10%: Acceleration/braking cycles
• 2-5%: Accessories (A/C, electrical systems)

You can only control about 25-30% of your fuel's fate. Hypermiling optimizes that 25-30%.

Beginner Techniques (Safe for Everyone)

1. Pulse and Glide

The technique: Instead of maintaining constant throttle, accelerate gently to 5-10 mph above target speed, then coast with minimal throttle until 5-10 mph below target. Repeat.

Why it works: Engines are most efficient at moderate load, not constant light load. Brief acceleration followed by coasting beats constant low-power cruising.

MPG improvement: 10-20%

Best for: Suburban driving, light traffic

Safety note: Maintain safe speeds and don't coast in neutral (illegal in some states and reduces vehicle control).

2. Anticipate Traffic Flow

The technique: Look far ahead (15-20 seconds of driving distance) and adjust speed early to avoid braking.

Examples:

• See a red light ahead? Lift off gas early, coast to it
• Traffic slowing? Start coasting before you need to brake
• Green light for a while? It's probably about to change

Why it works: Braking converts kinetic energy (that you paid for with fuel) into heat. Avoiding braking preserves that energy.

MPG improvement: 10-30%

3. Accelerate Gently

The technique: Take 15-20 seconds to reach cruising speed instead of 8-10 seconds.

Why it works: Hard acceleration burns disproportionately more fuel. Gentle acceleration keeps the engine in its efficient range.

MPG improvement: 10-15%

Reality check: You don't need to be the slowest car off the line. Just avoid flooring it.

4. Maintain Steady Speeds

The technique: Use cruise control on highways. In manual driving, focus on keeping the speedometer needle stable.

Why it works: Speed fluctuations waste fuel. Accelerating from 60 to 65 mph, then slowing back to 60 mph, uses more fuel than maintaining 62 mph.

MPG improvement: 5-15%

5. Drive Slower on Highways

The technique: Drive 60-65 mph instead of 70-75 mph.

Why it works: Air resistance increases exponentially with speed. At 75 mph, you fight 56% more drag than at 60 mph.

MPG improvement: 10-20%

The trade-off: A 100-mile trip takes 1:40 at 60 mph vs. 1:20 at 75 mph. The 20 extra minutes save about $3-5 in fuel.

Intermediate Techniques

6. Draft Awareness (Not Drafting)

The technique: Position yourself to benefit from reduced air disturbance behind larger vehicles, but at safe following distances (4-6 seconds behind).

Why it works: Trucks and buses create a "wake" of lower air pressure. Even at safe distances, you catch some aerodynamic benefit.

Important: This is NOT close drafting. Stay at least 200+ feet behind trucks. Closer distances are dangerous and illegal.

MPG improvement: 2-5% at safe distances

7. DWB (Driving Without Brakes)

The technique: Try to complete trips using brakes as little as possible. This forces you to anticipate and plan ahead.

How to practice:

1. On empty roads, see how far you can drive without touching the brake
2. Use engine braking and coasting instead
3. Plan approaches to stops far in advance

Why it works: Every brake application represents wasted fuel energy. Minimizing braking maximizes efficiency.

Safety note: Always brake when necessary. This is a practice technique, not an absolute rule.

8. Ridge Riding

The technique: In wet conditions, drive where previous cars have cleared the water (in tire tracks of the car ahead).

Why it works: Water creates resistance. Driving in the "dry" tracks reduces rolling resistance.

MPG improvement: 2-5% in rain

9. Parking Strategy

The technique:

• Park facing out (no reverse on departure)
• Park in shade in summer (less A/C needed)
• Park at far end of lots (no idling while hunting for spots)
• On hills, park facing downhill for gravity assist on departure

Why it works: Cold starts and short idle times waste fuel. Strategic parking minimizes both.

Advanced Techniques (Use With Caution)

10. Engine-Off Coasting

The technique: Turn off the engine while coasting downhill or approaching stops.

Warning: This is risky and not recommended for most drivers. When the engine is off:

• Power steering is lost
• Power brakes are diminished (one application left in the booster)
• Some safety systems may deactivate

Legal status: Illegal in some jurisdictions.

Modern alternative: Hybrids and many modern cars do this automatically and safely.

11. Over-Inflation

The technique: Inflate tires 3-5 PSI above the door jamb recommendation (but below the tire's maximum).

Why it works: Higher pressure = lower rolling resistance = better MPG.

The trade-off:

• Slightly harsher ride
• Faster center tread wear
• Slightly reduced grip in wet conditions

Typical approach: Add 2-3 PSI above recommendation. More than that shifts too much into the negatives.

MPG improvement: 1-3%

12. Forced Auto Stop (FAS)

The technique: In automatics, shifting to neutral at stops to reduce idle load.

Why it works: In Drive at a stop, the engine works against the torque converter. Neutral eliminates this.

Caution: Excessive neutral shifting can wear the transmission. Most modern cars with auto-start-stop do this better automatically.

Hypermiling for Hybrids

Hybrids offer unique hypermiling opportunities because of their regenerative braking and EV modes.

Glide Mode

Many hybrids have a "glide" or EV-only mode accessible at steady low throttle. Learn where your car's sweet spot is (usually 15-40 mph with very light throttle).

Battery State Management

Keep the battery in the middle of its range. Avoid full charges (limits regen braking) or empty charges (forces engine on).

Forced EV Mode

Use EV-only mode strategically: low-speed zones, parking lots, short neighborhood trips.

Hypermiling for EVs

EVs don't burn fuel, but hypermiling still extends range.

Maximize Regenerative Braking

Use one-pedal driving mode. Lift off the accelerator early to regen instead of using friction brakes.

Speed Matters Even More

EVs are especially sensitive to speed. At 75 mph, you might get 30% less range than at 55 mph.

Climate Control Strategy

Use seat heaters instead of cabin heat. Pre-condition while plugged in.

The Hypermiler's Dashboard

Track these metrics to improve:

Instant MPG: Shows real-time efficiency. Watch how it changes with throttle input.

Average MPG: Your overall performance. Try to beat your personal best.

Trip Computer: Reset at each fill-up to track tank-to-tank efficiency.

Pro tip: Many hypermilers use OBD-II scanners with MPG apps for more detailed real-time data.

Hypermiling Competitions

Hypermilers compete to see who can achieve the best MPG on specific routes.

Notable achievements:

• 213.5 MPG in a stock Prius (extreme techniques, controlled conditions)
• 81.17 MPG in a Ford Fusion Hybrid (world record for a hybrid sedan)
• 100+ MPG routinely achieved by experienced hypermilers in various hybrids

What NOT to Do

Dangerous Practices to Avoid

1. Close drafting: Tailgating trucks is dangerous, illegal, and not worth the risk
2. Running red lights/stop signs: Momentum isn't worth tickets or accidents
3. Under-speeding dangerously: Don't do 45 mph on a 65 mph highway
4. Coasting in neutral on hills: Reduces vehicle control
5. Engine-off coasting without practice: Power steering and brake loss can be catastrophic

Legal Issues

• Engine-off coasting: Illegal in many states
• Extreme under-speeding: Can result in citations
• Blocking traffic: "Impeding flow" tickets exist

Realistic Expectations

Based on a typical midsize sedan rated at 30 MPG combined.

Quick Start Guide

Week 1: Awareness

• Watch your instant MPG display
• Note what makes it go up and down
• Track your tank MPG

Week 2: Anticipation

• Focus on looking far ahead
• Try to coast to every stop
• Avoid unnecessary braking

Week 3: Acceleration

• Practice gentle acceleration
• Time yourself to 40 mph: aim for 15+ seconds
• Use cruise control on highways

Week 4: Optimization

• Try pulse and glide on empty roads
• Experiment with tire pressure (+2 PSI)
• Compete with yourself to beat last week's MPG

The Bottom Line

Hypermiling isn't about driving annoyingly slow or risking safety. It's about driving smarter.

The core techniques: looking ahead, avoiding unnecessary braking, accelerating gently, and maintaining steady speeds, will improve anyone's MPG by 15-25% with zero risk.

Advanced techniques can push that to 30-40% improvement, but evaluate the trade-offs carefully.

The best hypermilers drive smoothly, anticipate everything, and make fuel efficiency a game. It's free, it's safe (when done right), and it saves real money.

Last updated: January 2025