100 MPG over 8000 miles!
 

Honda have beaten a World record managing a head scratching average of just over 100 UK MPG over a staggering 8387 miles across Europe! Hondas research and development team achieved this impressive economy in a standard diesel production version of the popular Civic.

Of all the suspiciously high so called "record breaking" economy tests we hear about, this has to be the most comprehensive long term test ever recorded, they drove through an epic 24 countries all together! Personaly I take my hat off to them having the patients to travel such a vast distance using hypermiling techniques, very impressive!

More info on this story here: Honda Civic Tourer 1.6 i-DTEC sets 100mpg record - GreenCarGuide.co.uk

The hypermiling gurus at CleanMPG drool over the Civic diesel, but we won't see it here in the US. :(

They did get 77.9mpg US with the 2.0 TDI Passat going through the continental US. That's 93.55mpg UK.
VW Passat TDI sets 77.9 mpg fuel economy record through Lower 48 states
2013 Volkswagen Passat TDI Ready to Hit the Road - CleanMPG Forums

Yea I remember reading about that, pretty good going. I'd love to organise my own eco trip, but I just know I'd run out of patience after a few hours. Its a shame there's not more demand for these cars in the Us as there seems to be fair bit of interest.

I just recently in april moved from my first beat up Volkswagen Jetta 2000 to a newer 2014 Volkswagen Jetta TDI Premium I'm enjoying the 38-42 mpg. I was only getting about 18-20 in my gas vehicle. I think the highest i've ever hit in the diesel one driving around was about 53 mpg driving 70-80. I have no complaints either.

If they sold the Bluemotion versions there, you'd get even more. I find diesels seem to be more efficient at higher speeds.

It's mainly the historicly low fuel prices, and lack of Carbon Dioxide taxing that have meant there's no desperate rush to switch to diesel in the US. But you can't argue with the efficiency.

They just started selling the Bluemotion vehicles in the US. The 2015 vehicles are the ones that have that. I mean I'm not going to complain about it if I drive appropriately and not put the foot to the floor I can get a good 40-50 mpg per trip which is perfectly fine by me. Especially when gas prices go up in the near future because we are going to have another recession. So i'm going to enjoy it while it lasts with diesel below premium in my town now. costs me $2.95 to $2.99 for diesel. so no worries for me.

Yes it's strange, for the first time in years and years diesel has just dropped below gas here too.

That's really impressive!! Although I'm sure someone else will already be out trying to beat them in something else!

I think a recession will further put downward pressure on fuel prices. The barrel of oil might get closer to $20 :eek:

As a kid I remember gas being about a quarter a gallon and diesel about 7-10 cents a gallon. My first vehicle was a Honda CT70. I believe it had about a 2 maybe 3 quart tank. My first "fill" was 7 cents. Once I learned the bike it usually was around 15 cents or so.

Back on topic, is there somewhere that has the abridged version of the reader's digest version of the abbreviated version of what's involved in hypermiling? I'm curious what they did in their 8300 mile 100mpg run but have a very short attention span at times. Thanks.

I did a bit of homework, couldn't find anything in detail to explain thier methods or techniques which is really annoying. I might email Honda UK and ask for further details, worth a shot. They may have had VW drivers behind the wheel, so might have cheated ;)

One technique many hypermilers use is what some term as "pulse and glide." That is, they will accelerate up to a certain speed and then shut off the engine and/or take it out of gear while gliding down to a certain speed and then repeat in sort of a rowing pattern going from point A to point B. I believe this particular technique works best in somewhat hilly terraine. If this is done in traffic, it tends to irritate other drivers for obvious reasons.


I wonder if they include the cost of new starters and clutches in their calculations of long-term economy.

I'm familiar with that one. I do a modified form in my Prius. I don't get near 100mpg of course although I did get 77.1mpg yesterday. Sadly it was only a 2 mile drive not a several hundred mile average but I'll still take it.

I always thinks it's best to remain at a constant speed for as long as possible. I can see how coasting will use little to no fuel, especially down hill, but having to accelerate again will use a lot of fuel again. I don't think the techniques used here would have put any extra strain on any components, if anything, less stress would have been caused, as driving efficiently requires much more gentle methods than those used normally.

The pulse and glide or coast can work because engines are oversized for the car to provide adequate perform for the less common times with higher load is needed, like passing and climbing a hill. Most engines will be less thermally efficient at the lower loads used for cruising.

The idea is to pulse under medium to heavy acceleration in order to have the engine running at its most efficient for output. It isn't the most efficient for covering distance, but the following coast will use very little to no fuel, so the fuel economy for the entire cycle will be high.

I have found it may not be as effective on freeways where the high speeds mean more air drag, and that slows the coast too quickly. Hybrids can pull it off by using the battery charge and motors to keep it up for a longer distance.

It can be done in traffic without being a pest, but the gains won't be as big since that requires shorter coasts and less speed loss.

What kind of speeds to and from are we talking? I've never practiced this technique, but might be worth a go. I'm assuming you leave it in top gear during accelerating/coasting?

I don't know if the information can be found for "car" engines but for Cummins/DD/Cat etc. you can get the information on output levels and power curves and the rpm range of optimum efficiency. For my Cummins I believe it was 1400-1800. If that information could be obtained it would likely provide the best baseline to pulse and glide between X and Y mph based on rpm range for that engine. Gear choice would be whichever gear allows operating in that rpm range and the speed limit / traffic / etc..

The Polo Bluemotions have surprisingly mediocre figures on here - mid 50 UK mpg...after all they hype and waiting lists (and higher prices!).

I find that the limited pulse and glide that my routes allow me does seem to get better Mpg than just plodding along - but it is very variable as to when and where it can be practiced.

Might give it a go on my next trip, I'm due a fuel up at the weekend, and a food shop! Thing is, on these rural roads, people like to speed, so drifting between 40 and 60 will no doubt upset a few people. I'll only try it if the roads are quiet...

The type of car and engine is also a factor. Our Sable/Mondeo with a V6 sees some benefit from it on nearly all roads and speeds.

On the Sonic/Aveo, it only seems to help at speeds under 45mph. Higher and the little 1.4 turbo ends up sucking down more fuel with the required higher boost to pulse at those speeds. Fortunately, it shifts into the second overdrive at those speeds, so sticking near a steady engine load gets good results.

They are both automatics. I put to Sonic in neutral if I don't have a stop or other reason to slow down coming up. The Sable is a 2001. Its decelerating fuel cut off(DFCO) is no where near as aggressive as current models. Plus, there is a gate between drive and neutral on the shifter. So I leave it in gear, where the coast isn't much different than neutral in terms of engine braking.

Generally, the bigger the difference between the top and low speed of the coast, the bigger the fuel savings. With the traffic, I may only go from 45 to 40 or 35 in the Sonic. I've gotten impatient during the much longer coasts.

Honestly, I don't practice it on long, uninterrupted stretches of road. It's more I accelerate until I think the speed can let me coast to the next stop or intersection, or I time it to work with the hilly roads we got.

Yes, it's important not to cause other road users to have to make dramatic course or speed changes! Much as I like to dawdle and roll to get better economy, I always have an eye on the rear view mirror. If I see someone charging up behind me, and road conditions allow, I will accelerate so they meet me going closer to 60 mph than to 40 mph. However, I refuse to drive faster than is safe on rural roads and if another car wishes to they won't push me along any faster, I ll drive within safe stopping distances, and bearing in mind big and slow farm traffic that my be round a blind corner and as wide as the road...!