BENDING TO RIGOR

THE PRICE OF GASOLINE ('petrol' to citizens of Oz) is bringing a new reality and rigor to our lives...Americans are driving less, using public transport more, and even riding cycles more. On the commercial front, small airlines are going to the bankruptcy courts while their large and older brethren are merging, code-sharing, culling from their fleets the more thirsty planes, and reducing schedules. In the meantime, the larger auto companies are stripping out their profit making pickups and SUVs as the motoring public move to purchase more economical vehicles. This is the rigor of rising cost of fuel, whoever we are; our culture is bending to the discipline of more realistic costs of energy. Gasoline is costing the equivalent of $9 per gallon (including 60% taxes) in Europe and may rise to two thirds of that here in the US over the next year.


What to do about all this? Uma has decided to purchase a motor scooter and maybe I will have a picture of it in time for this post. We figure that fuel savings on small errands made several times a day between her stores and home will pay for the purchase within a year or so.

For my part, I have been experimenting with the suggestions of the Federal government; these include:

• travel between 25 and 55 mph
• keep tires properly inflated
• use overdrive as much as possible
• use cruise control

In addition, I have been using the discipline of drivers who win economy drives:

• imagine you have a full glass of water on the dashboard and keep it from spilling
  
• use slower acceleration and avoid harsh braking
• anticipate traffic lights so as to avoid stopping
• coast when it safe to do so
• thinking carefully whether I can put off a trip or combine purposes of trips; I figure it costs $1.50 in gas for each trip into town.
  

I have found this takes quite a deal of concentration at the outset but quickly becomes second nature. I was amazed that this has raised my 'round the town' economy from 22 mpg to 27 mpg.
My little Infiniti G20 (290,000 miles) gives me about 33 mpg on the highway and I am not sure that I can improve this much. We shall see.

I am interested to hear what approaches you are taking to get better economy from your cars.