My New Bumper Sticker

Ten days ago, driving 60 MPH on a trip to Dallas and back to Austin, I averaged 55.7 MPG in my 2007 Honda Civic Hybrid - the cost in time was 30 minutes each way. I would have averaged about 48 MPG at 65-70 MPH, my typical highway speed, maybe 46 MPG at 75 MPH. That's still pretty incredible compared to most cars, but over 55 MPG?? I was pleasantly surprised, both at the MPG, and at how painless it was. I passed three highway patrol cars lying in wait, with zero stress on my part.

I just Googled "55 MPH" and found this great website ... http://.drive55.org, which makes the connection between highway speeds and foreign oil consumption. If we were serious about Energy Independence and Greenhouse Gas Emissions, why wouldn't we all drive slower? I'm thinking this may be in our collective future near term, it makes so much sense.

For a vehicle traveling at high speed, reducing its speed increases fuel economy. In general, at speeds over approximately 35 to 45 mph, if a vehicle reduces its speed by 5 mph, its fuel economy can increase by about 5 to 10 percent, because air resistance, or drag, increases exponentially as a vehicle goes faster. Conversely, air resistance diminishes more rapidly as a vehicle slows down, thus increasing its fuel economy. According to existing literature and knowledgeable stakeholders, there is no single speed that optimizes fuel economy for all vehicles. Optimal speed for fuel economy for individual vehicles ranges widely, but is generally between 30 and 60 mph, depending on a vehicle's characteristics. However, a vehicle's fuel economy also depends on other factors besides air resistance. Factors that enhance fuel economy include engine efficiency enhancements (e.g., fuel injection), electronic and computer controls, more efficient transmissions, and hybrid technology. However, other factors decrease fuel economy. In general, over the last 2 decades, fuel economy gains resulting from advances in automotive technologies have largely been offset by increases in vehicle weight, performance, and accessory loads. Specifically, vehicles are heavier than in the past, because they are larger and include more technologies. Further, increased accessory loads, such as air conditioning and electronics, have also reduced fuel economy. According to EPA, from 1987 through 2004, on a fleetwide basis, technology innovation was utilized exclusively to support market-driven attributes other than fuel economy, such as performance. Beginning in 2005, however, according to EPA's analysis of fuel economy trends, technology has been used to increase both performance and fuel economy, while keeping vehicle weight relatively constant. Lowering speed limits can potentially reduce total fuel consumption.

I wonder how many people realize the really bad gas mileage they get for every mile over 55 that they drive? What if that information were put in front of them? Would they change their habits?

Over the past 30 years, we've optimized our life styles on convenience and a false sense of urgency. It's more convenient to spend less time on the road. With cheap gas, we spend gas instead of time. The fact is, few of us really have to have all of the conveniences we've come to expect - it's just that our economy and society give them to us at little to no cost, so it makes sense to accept them when they are handed to us.

I can remember the days of long car trips in the 1970s. Driving 55 MPH seemed like torture back then, but of course, I was a young man in a hurry. A little older and a lot wiser, I'm not so sure I'm in such a big hurry anymore. Usually I can leave earlier, my car is a lot more comfortable these days, and frankly, whatever/whomever it is waiting for me at the other end of the line can wait a little longer. It seems a small price to pay for gaining Energy Independence and Clean Air.

It's the little things that we can do - if we all do them - that will spell the difference between low and high impact, between mediocrity and success.

I designed the bumper sticker at www.makestickers.com. $4.95 for one of them. Want one?