So close. Actually, I hit 40.0 MPG on the road there, but it went down .1 after I shut the car off.
How did I do it? I follow the basic principles of hypermilling, a practice that you’ve probably heard about lately with gas prices being where they are.
- My tires are at 44 PSI. This decreases rolling resistance.
- When I’m going up hill, I try and maintain speed but resist the urge to accelerate.
- Once I crest a hill, I shift into neutral and let gravity do its thing.
- I do something called “Pulse and Glide”, where I accelerate 10 MPH over a target on a flat or downhill area, and coast until I’m 10 MPH under that target.
- I can monitor my car’s essential performance functions, and it teaches me to keep my throttle lighter than I normally notice myself pushing it.
- Red light ahead? coast in neutral.
- Pulling out is not a drag race.
- The speed limit is something I now take seriously.
Route planning helps. My destination was on an average -0.4% grade. My daily commute is +0.2% in the morning and -0.2% in the afternoon, both directions ~11.5 miles.
By the way, my car’s EPA combined rating is 21 MPG. Today I beat that by 100%. I’m proud.