Efficient Driving: A Different Form of Motorsport

Labeling hypermiling as a motorsport may be controversial, but let’s try to clarify. According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, motorsport refers to “various sports involving racing or competitive driving of motor vehicles,” wherein the objectives differ based on the discipline.

In competitive racing, the primary goal is clear: reach the finish line first. However, in a tractor pull, success is based on pulling the load the farthest through sheer power. Dyno contests focus on engine performance rather than vehicle movement, and demolition derbies conclude with the destruction of opponents. Even timber sports can be considered under this broad definition.

Various motorsports do not rely on quantifiable results to determine winners. Drift competitions depend on judges’ subjective evaluations, as do burnout showdowns. Some might argue that Concours d’Elegance also qualifies as a form of motorsport. Motorsport as a concept does not always require objectivity, although it can strengthen the case for the sport.

Hypermiling, with its measurable metric of miles per gallon, provides an avenue to gauge success and engage in competition. While hypermilers do not directly compete with each other, the focus is on self-improvement, akin to beating a personal best lap time. Hypermilers, like racers, use techniques to enhance vehicle performance and efficiency.

In grassroots racing communities, enhancing the driver’s skills is often regarded as the primary upgrade for a vehicle. Training, understanding racing lines, refining braking techniques, and pushing the car to its limits are crucial. Similarly, hypermilers adopt a similar approach, sometimes borrowing strategies from elite racing circuits.

On Ecomodder, a prominent hub for hypermilers, the section on driving tips reinforces techniques akin to those used in professional racing. Concepts such as momentum conservation, drafting, and optimal racing lines are still crucial, albeit for reasons beyond speed.

Many of their recommendations are not as extreme (or risky), naturally. Shutting windows and sunroofs, gliding to avoid sudden braking, utilizing inclines to gain momentum, maintaining consistent speeds instead of fluctuating up and down, minimizing A/C usage, and more. These adjustments marginally reduce fuel consumption, and their cumulative impact is significant. Nonetheless, similar to racing, skill can only get you so far: There comes a juncture where the vehicle poses limitations. This marks the inception of modifications.

Some of the modifications hypermilers apply to their vehicles might ring a bell. Ecomodder suggests various enhancements such as lighter wheels, lowered suspension, aerodynamic components, and eliminating excess weight or drag-inducing accessories like roof racks and mud flaps. At the more extreme end of the spectrum, it involves engine swaps, getting rid of air conditioning and power steering, or even adjusting transmission gear ratios.

Then there are alterations that flip performance-enhancing techniques on their heads. Intakes that pull in hot air, slightly modified camshafts, efficiency-optimized fuel tunes, and using narrower, firmer tires with increased air pressure to minimize rolling resistance.

They draw inspiration from land speed record competitions as well: Removing mirrors and wipers, usage of aero wheel covers, and aggressive streamlining techniques are sometimes put into practice. Think obstructing grilles, sealing panel gaps, adding wheel skirts, even transforming to Kammbacks and reshaping rooflines to minimize aerodynamic drag. One notable Geo Metro hypermiler went to the extent of modifying their car’s interior to an asymmetrical, tandem seating layout.

Given their resourcefulness, they have devised a few of their own performance enhancements. Some employ block heaters or exhaust heat exchangers to expedite inefficient warm-up periods, or integrate solar panels to lessen alternator loads.

While racing is confined to closed courses, hypermilers can practice their craft on public roads. This decentralizes the activity, making it more inclusive and enabling individuals to set records on any road, then share their achievements online. Ecomodder users have a dedicated thread where they showcase their milestones, ranging from achieving 50 mpg in a $700 Honda Civic to a VW Passat TDI owner surpassing the EPA’s fuel efficiency estimate by 50 percent. On Facebook, a woman shared achieving 60 mpg in her Toyota Prius, while a Tacoma 4×4 driver reached 32 mpg. The latter may seem modest, but it represents a 60% improvement over the pickup truck’s 20 mpg EPA rating.

Potential for enhanced efficiency is readily available. Thomas Riopelle shared images of his 2015 Chevy Spark, revealing that he attains 65 mpg through bold aero modifications to his vehicle, which also reduce noise in the cabin during highway drives. Zoshino Kosuke, owner of a 2005 Toyota Echo, achieves 70 mpg with the addition of an extended spoiler, flat underbody, partial grille block, and sleek wheels from a Honda Insight. Jerama Stuart, on the other hand, elevated his 2004 Saturn Ion to 48 mpg without altering his driving habits—and he still employs it for autocross events.

In comparison to the grassroots racing scene, hypermilers constitute a minority group. Although Toyota hosts an annual Green Grand Prix at Watkins Glen, the infrequent updates on its website and social media reflect the relatively limited online presence of this niche interest.

Ecomodders remains moderately active as an internet forum in 2024, but the second-largest forum identified by Google has remained inactive for several years. Reddit’s r/hypermiling may experience days without new posts, and the primary English-language Facebook group has approximately 900 members. Despite being on the periphery, this community persists.

In the coming years, there is potential for hypermiling to witness a resurgence. Whether driven by escalating fuel costs or deteriorating EV battery performance leading to reduced range, drivers will always seek methods to extend their vehicle’s lifespan. If this process is also easily gamified, it adds to the appeal. Bragging rights are valuable, whether achieved by a small or significant increase in miles per gallon.

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