Site search
sponsored by
Home
News
ENLARGE
The fact that gas is now above $3 a gallon is not lost on Damonte Ranch resident Brian Morris.
Since he began commuting to work in Incline Village in January, he's taken the challenge to get every speck of mileage out of each tank of gas.
Morris is able to stretch his gasoline to 52 mpg, on a car that the EPA says should get 30 to 40 mpg.
With this former Navy medical corpsman, fighting the high cost of gas is more than an economic issue.
"This may make some people mad, but every time I'd get transferred to another area of the world, it was due to the oil industry," said Morris who now works as an Internet technician for Tarsin Inc. of Incline. "It made me mad and I wanted to do what I could to take a little money out of their pockets."
What Morris did was to become a "hypermiler."
Since he began commuting to work in Incline Village in January, he's taken the challenge to get every speck of mileage out of each tank of gas.
Morris is able to stretch his gasoline to 52 mpg, on a car that the EPA says should get 30 to 40 mpg.
With this former Navy medical corpsman, fighting the high cost of gas is more than an economic issue.
"This may make some people mad, but every time I'd get transferred to another area of the world, it was due to the oil industry," said Morris who now works as an Internet technician for Tarsin Inc. of Incline. "It made me mad and I wanted to do what I could to take a little money out of their pockets."
What Morris did was to become a "hypermiler."
Hypermilers are drivers who exceed the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimated mileage on their vehicles by modifying their driving habits.
The term 'hypermiler' originated from hybrid vehicle driving clubs.
As people began comparing fuel efficiency, they noticed that by using certain driving techniques, they could greatly improve their mileage.
With the aid of real time mileage displays, drivers were able to refine these driving techniques and greatly exceed the EPA rating for their vehicle.
Decades before the word 'hypermiler' was termed, the techniques were used in events such as the Mobil Economy Run dating to 1936.
Gas rationing during World War II forced some drivers to adopt these techniques, but they largely fell out of favor with the population after the war.
The term 'hypermiler' originated from hybrid vehicle driving clubs.
As people began comparing fuel efficiency, they noticed that by using certain driving techniques, they could greatly improve their mileage.
With the aid of real time mileage displays, drivers were able to refine these driving techniques and greatly exceed the EPA rating for their vehicle.
Decades before the word 'hypermiler' was termed, the techniques were used in events such as the Mobil Economy Run dating to 1936.
Gas rationing during World War II forced some drivers to adopt these techniques, but they largely fell out of favor with the population after the war.
"It's a real challenge to try and get as much out of a tank of gas as you can," Morris said. "I've done a very few modifications to my car. The key is changing your driving habits."
Those modifications include an electric block heater to warm up his car without running the engine and a solar charger for his battery, but he said it's how he drives that really adds to the savings.
"You can put me in any make or model of car and I know I can improve the gas mileage," Morris said. "You have to pay attention to the little things."
Those little things start at the gas pump, according to Morris, where a lot of people cheat themselves.
"Not many people bother to raise and empty the hose when they're done pumping gas and leave that little bit of gas for the next guy," Morris said. "I also use a gas credit card that offers me rebates on gas which also cuts down on my fuel costs considerably."
American Automobile Association spokeman Michael Geeser has heard of the efforts made by "hypermilers" and said his organization applauds their efforts.
Those modifications include an electric block heater to warm up his car without running the engine and a solar charger for his battery, but he said it's how he drives that really adds to the savings.
"You can put me in any make or model of car and I know I can improve the gas mileage," Morris said. "You have to pay attention to the little things."
Those little things start at the gas pump, according to Morris, where a lot of people cheat themselves.
"Not many people bother to raise and empty the hose when they're done pumping gas and leave that little bit of gas for the next guy," Morris said. "I also use a gas credit card that offers me rebates on gas which also cuts down on my fuel costs considerably."
American Automobile Association spokeman Michael Geeser has heard of the efforts made by "hypermilers" and said his organization applauds their efforts.
"Any conservation efforts are good and we urge people to conserve on fuel, which also cuts down on emissions," Geeser said. "These people have just taken it to a whole new level."
Morris doesn't expect that people will be as meticulous as he is, "I take notes, chart every fill-up and even use the same pump," but he is hoping that people can learn from what he and other "hypermilers" have discovered.
"Anyone can cut down on fuel consumption and cost with a little extra effort," he said. "You just have to want to."
Sports Editor Jack Carrerow can be reached at (775) 831-4666 ext. 119 or at jcarrerow@tahoebonanza.com
Morris doesn't expect that people will be as meticulous as he is, "I take notes, chart every fill-up and even use the same pump," but he is hoping that people can learn from what he and other "hypermilers" have discovered.
"Anyone can cut down on fuel consumption and cost with a little extra effort," he said. "You just have to want to."
Sports Editor Jack Carrerow can be reached at (775) 831-4666 ext. 119 or at jcarrerow@tahoebonanza.com
