by John Sivyer www.GreenDrivingTips.com
How do you average 69 MPG in a car with an EPA rating of 38?
Just ask Mike Turner a 52 year old electronics technician from Hodges, SC. He used a combination of Ecomodding and Hypermiling two terms that were foreign to me only a couple of months ago but are becoming increasingly popular as gas prices soar.
I had the opportunity to ask Mike several questions about his modifications.
What motivated you to make such dramatic changes to the shape of your car ?
“After the hurricane Katrina gas price surge, I got tired of waiting for the car companies to come out with a car I could buy that got better mileage than mine. So I researched the subject and started modifying it””
Explain more about what makes your car get such outstanding gas mileage?
” Through a number of aero drag reduction mods I reduced my car’s drag coefficient (Cd)from .36 down to .17. More importantly, my car’s ultra-low Cd made it possible for me to get this mileage while driving at normal highway speeds, so I don’t run into problems with being the “slow hypermiler” on the highway.”
How long did it take you to build the modifications?
About 150 hours.
What kind of changes did you notice when driving at highway speeds?
“I had the Civic off the road for over a week while installing the mods, during which time I drove our Honda Odyssey and Ford F150. When I first took the modified Civic out for a drive after a week’s worth of getting used to driving “normal” vehicles, I was impressed by how differently it drove than your typical vehicle. Most cars slow down fairly quickly when the power is cut, especially at highway speeds, but the aerocivic only very slowly loses speed when power is cut. It makes a normal car feel like driving around with the parking brake lightly engaged.”
What does your wife think of this project now that you are saving so much money on gas?
“She’s proud of it. I have also done a few aero mods to her car.”
Have you ever been stopped by the police in this car?
“Numerous times, mostly just to satisfy their curiosity about the “funny looking car”.
If you have any doubts about Mikes claims, here is a link to over two years of his driving logs hosted by the Grandaddy of Hypermilling Wayne Gerdes.
