| Buying a hybrid car is more than a calculated decision | | | | find yourself in anything other than the "slow" lane. |
| to save fuel. It is a statement about "saving the | | | | All bets are off when they let you use the carpool |
| planet". | | | | lane. |
| Even if the chances are pretty slim that hybrid | | | | 3. You Just Won't Inch Forward Will You! |
| technology will actually make much difference, it | | | | Everybody else in the world knows that you must |
| gives hybrid owners the right to feel superior. After | | | | "inch" forward during stop and go traffic. How else |
| all, they care about the planet. And the rest of the | | | | are you going to keep up with the driver in front. |
| world obviously doesn't. | | | | Besides, if you leave more than about a 15' gap |
| But if you're one of those hybrid owners you'd | | | | between you and the guy ahead somebody's going |
| better be ready to lose some friends. Here's why... | | | | to jump into the gap and slow you down even more. |
| 1. You're Driving Way Too Slow | | | | Hybrid drivers have been told this "inching forward" |
| In theory at least, hybrid owners are the antithesis | | | | stuff is pointless and wastes fuel. And the way they |
| of those guys who just ache to get in that passing | | | | build hybrids these days they've got a point. When |
| lane and leave the rest of us behind. You know the | | | | you take your foot off the brake pedal the |
| type...you're minding your own business coming out | | | | auto-stop turns off and the gasoline engine restarts |
| onto the expressway and the otherwise ordinary guy | | | | -- like one of those gasoline engine golf carts. And |
| in the vehicle behind you swings out and passes even | | | | there goes most of your gas savings. All those stops |
| before you've hit the highway. | | | | and starts just eat up the gas. |
| Hybrid owners seem to do just the opposite. You've | | | | But don't expect your mono-drive cousins to |
| known for years that driving slow saves fuel. So | | | | understand. They've only got one thing in mind: to |
| you're likely to be driving under the speed limit rather | | | | get wherever they're going just as fast as possible. |
| than over like the rest of the world. | | | | And everybody knows that racing up behind the guy |
| The fact that you're driving a hybrid just makes it | | | | in front is the only way to make that happen. |
| worse, since you know that all the potential savings | | | | 4. Do you really think you should be drafting me like |
| are squandered if you try to go fast. | | | | that? |
| Especially when you're accelerating. That guy in the | | | | The responsible hybrid owner will make use of every |
| high powered vehicle who pulls out and passes... the | | | | advantage to save gas. And drafting larger vehicles is |
| thought of saving gas has never crossed his mind. | | | | one technique that the more aggressive will try. |
| But hydrid owners know better. For you it's a moral | | | | That's where you pull right up behind a semi, a van, |
| duty to save fuel. The fate of the planet depends on | | | | or an SUV and try to stay in the pocket of air they |
| it. So there's no way you're going to try any of that | | | | are pulling along behind them. |
| fast acceleration stuff. | | | | I remember doing this with an old '65 Beetle a few |
| 2. What's with the Pulse and Glide Stuff | | | | years back. We were travelling along the New York |
| You've been told that "pulse and glide" can make a | | | | Thruway drafting semis. We were making great time |
| serious difference to your gas milage. That's where | | | | and saving lots of gas... until we blew a rod. |
| you accelerate (conservatively) to the speed limit, | | | | Of course, sticking on someone?s bumper will not |
| and then let the car "glide" to 10 or more miles per | | | | endear you to too many of your fellow drivers. And |
| hour below the speed limit. Repeat this procedure. | | | | as I discovered, it's a bit dangerous too. You'll find |
| Repeat this procedure. Repeat this procedure... | | | | yourself going quite a bit faster than you otherwise |
| I once had a friend who drove like this. I thought he | | | | would go. And whipping along in that back-draft does |
| was dozing off between pulses, but now I know | | | | not do a lot for your stability. |
| differently. He was actually doing the environmentally | | | | Just try to remember, when you're out there on the |
| responsible thing. | | | | highway trying to save the planet, the rest of the |
| My friend's driving habits aside, this practice is not | | | | world could care less about your morally superiour |
| going to endear you to all the rest of the drivers | | | | driving habits. All they want to do is get where |
| who can't figure out why you keep slowing down. | | | | they're going as fast as they can. |
| It's probably smart to speed up just a little when you | | | | |