The Commute

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Posted by Derek Sheppard at 4:52 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Have you figured out yet that proper tire inflation is kind of an important element in this hypermiling journey?

I wasn't aware of this, but hybrids usually come with low-rolling resistance tires.

Today, the Detroit News has a story about them.

Basically, the less flex and friction a tire causes, the more efficient it is, leading to better MPGs. (Also worse braking and off road performance.)

It makes sense. I'm into mountain biking, and rolling resistance along with tread pattern is a big concern when deciding what rubber to put on your hoops. If you've ever ridden a knobby-hoofed mountain bike on the street, versus one with slick tires, you know all about what rolling resistance does to efficiency.

And even if you won't cough up the extra dough for low-rolling resistance tires, and can't seem to find the time to keep your current tires inflated, you can always hope for some tweels.

Posted by Derek Sheppard at 8:45 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

So, I bet you're wondering how I got 36 miles per gallon out of my trusty steed?

First, let me get something off my chest. I broke a promise.

Remember when I started this whole thing I mentioned not doing anything crazy or illegal?

I might have fudged a little on the second part...specifically the issue of coasting downhill in neutral.

Though, the legal cosmos are more than balanced because I rarely eclipsed the speed limit, which usually amounted to no more than five over. I went 65 on the highway once, but that was to pass an erratically driven truck.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not advocating people break traffic laws, but my rationalization went something like this: What's worse, knowing you've broken the law by driving 5 or 10 mph over the speed limit, or coasting down a few hills?

Plus, the allure of saving money when everything seems to get more expensive by the day was too much to ignore.

In fact, I got even more curious about the law prohibiting coasting in neutral. It was passed in 1965, and has never been amended. Jerry Sheehan, the director of the Legislative Information Center, was kind enough to see if his folks could dig up any info on why and how this law came to be. It's so old, there might not be anything out there, but you never know.

Enough about that.

Now, for the other ways I saved:

Slow down. Go the speed limit.

Fill your tires. I filled my tires to 35 psi, the max sidewall recommendation. And check them! (I've noticed my front right tire deflates faster than the others.)

Keep the revs low. Here's where I have an advantage with the 6-speed manual. I've tried really hard to keep the revs around 2,000. That's a far cry from the banshee wail of my engine in second gear ripping up to 60 at 8,300 rpm on freeway onramps. (Anybody whose driven a car - Vibe GT, Matrix and Corolla XRS, Celica - with my engine knows what I'm talking about.)

Time the traffic lights. This is a big one that I never thought about before: Don't speed up to stoplights. Meaning, keep an eye out waaaay ahead. If the light's yellow, red, or has been green a long time, gradually slow down. Often times you won't even have to stop at the light because it'll turn green by the time you get there.

Take all the extra junk out of your car. (For me, it was mostly garbage and my golf clubs.)

Don't run the A/C. Yes, it was hot, but I lived.

Posted by Derek Sheppard at 6:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0)

A project is going to ad this week that, when done, should make getting onto Highway 16 from I-5 in Tacoma much less scary. Right now, there are more accidents there than anywhere in the state, according to the Department of Transportation.
The problem is there's a whole lot of merging going oin there. Traffic that has just gotten on to Highway 16 from northbound I-5 have to immediately merge to the left while some vehicles in left lane coming from are trying to get to the right so they can exit at Sprague Avenue.
The Department of Transportation is calling it the I-5/SR 16: Westbound Nalley Valley project. It's the first part of a multi-year, three-project effort to build a better Nalley Valley Viaduct.
Crews will build dedicated ramps for the various traffic movements that take place between northbound and southbound I-5, westbound SR 16 and Sprague Avenue. A computer-enhanced photo here shows how the the viaduct will look after the first project is completed.
It will be followed by two other Nalley Valley projects -- building a new eastbound viaduct (and demolishing the existing viaduct); and building HOV connections between I-5 and the Highway 16 HOV lanes.

Posted by Ed Friedrich at 10:46 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

A lot of people must've stayed real close to home dodging the neighbors' bottle rockets and listening to window-rumbling M-80s over the three-day Fourth of July weekend.
We've all heard that airlines are cutting flights and raising fares, so it would be expected that the number of long trips would be down. People are supposedly taking shorter trips, enjoying their own state. But with gas prices the way they are, maybe it's more like they're enjoying their own county.
More people stayed home over the Fourth than usual, according to the Department of Transportation. Traffic counters recorded 6.2 percent fewer vehicles going over Snoqualmie Pass than in 2003 between Thursday and Sunday. Why they compared it to 2003 instead of, say, 2007, I don't know. Technical gremlins kept them from getting the Stevens Pass numbers.

Posted by Ed Friedrich at 9:58 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

I finally filled up today, and all I can say is WOW. I have two new important numbers: 36 and 434.

Remember one of my numbers in the first blog post? 28?

That was my typical combined mpg. When I filled up today the trip odometer read 373 miles, way more than usual of course, and I put in 10.244 gallons until the "click" of the pump. (I hadn't quite yet the fuel light come on, but it was close.)

That calculates to 36.4 mpg, an increase of 30 percent. Honestly, I'm stunned.

Let's do some more (ugh...) math.

Remember, that driving an average of 12,000 miles a year at 28 mpg and $4.55 gasoline (I'm on premium, remember?) means I'd spend $1,950.

At 36 mpg, I'd spend $1516 a year, given the same variables.

That's a yearly savings of $434, which is actually low because it assumes gas is going to stay at $4.55. (Ha!)

Alas, it's a sunny Saturday and I'm off work. I'll write a little more on Monday.

Posted by Derek Sheppard at 6:04 PM | Permalink | Comments (4) | TrackBacks (0)

The new Tacoma Narrows Bridge celebrates its first birthday next week. I was wondering how people feel about it after the first 12 months. I covered much of the early going, before any concrete was poured, and it was PAINFUL. At times it looked like it would never get built. There were lawsuits and nastiness. It finally got pushed through, some believe unfairly. That was the hard part, because construction itself seemed to go pretty smoothly, outside of oxidized cable. Most of those who set in traffic before the bridge I bet think it's a good thing. If you just move into the area and take the free-flowing traffic for granted, the $4 toll might seem like much.
I want to write a story about the users' impression of the first year. If you respond, please included your first and last name and town of residence. I'd be nice to have a phone number, too, in case I want to call you, but not necessary.
Thanks
EDF

Posted by Ed Friedrich at 3:07 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

(EDITED: Now includes the map.)

View Larger Map
Keeping your tires property inflated is an important, and EASY, thing you can do to improve your safety, and gas mileage.

Only one problem. Most gas stations make you feed quarters into the air compressor.

So, as a service to myself and anyone else, I'd like to make a Google map with all the Kitsap stations that offer free air. Send me the name and address (if you have it) of the station, and I'll create a map.

Posted by Derek Sheppard at 3:47 PM | Permalink | Comments (7) | TrackBacks (0)

"Community" means something far different today than it did 15 years ago.

If it weren't for the Internet, and the ease of finding new information, I probably wouldn't have a clue what hypermiling is. Really, the term "hypermiling" probably wouldn't have been invented.

But today, whether you're trying to learn how to squeeze out the most MPGs or kite aerial photography, there's a community - and more collective knowledge at the click of a mouse - than we ever could have imagined decades ago.

To start my journey, I went to cleanmpg.com and posted a message about my project.

So far, I've gotten a good bit of advice.

Not to leave out the other outlets, there's ecomodder.com, and hypermilingforum.com. If I've missed any, post a link in a comment. Marketers looking for a free ad for your Wonder Gas Saver 3000!!! (Exclamation points always=great products!!!!), save yourself the trouble. Please.

Don't forget about communities for you car, too. Each vehicle has it's own quirks and idiosyncrasies, so you can seek out communities dedicated to your ride.

In my case it's genvibe.com and matrixowners.com. (The Pontiac Vibe and Toyota Matrix share nearly everything but the body panels.)

So if you're cruising in your Ford Focus, swanky new BMW M Coupe or even your economical Kia Rio, "your people" are out there to answer questions about your ride.

Just pick a search engine and enter your car make and model, and "forum."

Ex: "Ford Focus forum".

Posted by Derek Sheppard at 12:20 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

This whole hypermiling thing's been a popular discussion when we reporters and editors go out for lunch.

A couple of days ago, I posited this query: "Why does the gas needle drop faster after the halfway mark?"

I believe there was a chorus of "Yeah!?!?!?" that followed.

Thanks to the wonders of the Interwebs and its vast network of information (sometimes mis) there's an answer.

Or should I say, several answers. Most of the answers based on the physical properties of gas tanks and electrical circuits make the most sense, though I won't put this one out of the realm of possibility:

New car owners were complaining that the new cars were not getting good gas mileage. The manufacturers found out that if they made it take longer for the gauge to reach the half tank mark, the number of complaints was reduced.

I wonder what happens with these gas gauges.

Posted by Derek Sheppard at 1:26 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)