World Fuel Ecomony Championships

[bestmapman]

World Fuel Ecomony Championships are being held June 21. It may be of interest here, because there is a Prius class. Here is the link.

[scm2000]

Please correct me if I'm wrong, but I read this as people getting together to burn gas for no other purpose than to prove something about their fuel economy. It was even referred to as a "new type of motor sport" in the posting.

Learning how best to achieve high fuel economy in daily driving is best done in daily driving conditions, when the fuel is burned for a necessary trip from point a to point b.

I do not buy the stated purpose as there is loads of information available already on how best to drive these vehicles.

I am sorry but this just reminds me of postings I have seen where people have driven unnescessary circuits around their neighborhoods just to increase their tank averages.

[pardreamer]

In these 'races', people win with 150+ MPG with their prii, I don't know how they'd do it. Driving 30 MPG?

[miscrms]

Originally Posted by scm2000

Please correct me if I'm wrong, but I read this as people getting together to burn gas for no other purpose than to prove something about their fuel economy. It was even referred to as a "new type of motor sport" in the posting.

Learning how best to achieve high fuel economy in daily driving is best done in daily driving conditions, when the fuel is burned for a necessary trip from point a to point b.

I do not buy the stated purpose as there is loads of information available already on how best to drive these vehicles.

I am sorry but this just reminds me of postings I have seen where people have driven unnescessary circuits around their neighborhoods just to increase their tank averages.

Sounds like a good idea to me. Manufacturers participate in motor sports because it sells cars. If events like this catch on and raise awareness and excitement about fuel efficient vehicles resulting in more sales, then the amount of fuel expended in the event is more or less irrelevant.

Rob

[bestmapman]

Originally Posted by scm2000

Please correct me if I'm wrong, but I read this as people getting together to burn gas for no other purpose than to prove something about their fuel economy.

If you can get off of your high horse for a moment, you would see that the purpose of this event is to:

"The purpose is to find what techniques can best be exploited to receive the maximum fuel economy from the events vehicles. This information should be beneficial to the entire community as we strive to help others increase their own vehicles fuel economy as they can incorporate similar techniques into their own daily grinds. "

From events just like this, I personally have learned driving techniques and have raised my average tank MPG to over 70. I have not been below 60 MPG on an entire tank for a long time including winter. I hope to learn at this event from the people who are getting 80 MPG tanks. Now I don't know you or your situation, but I would imagine that you are not anywhere near these numbers. Maybe it would be beneficial to take some of the techniques and lessons learned that come out of this event and put them to use yourself. That is unless you are in the "Just drive it crowd", then nevermind, I am wasting my time.

[Cheap!]

I bet the electric car wins!

[bestmapman]

Originally Posted by Cheap!

I bet the electric car wins!

Interesting, we looked for a PHEV participant to have a PHEV class, but everyone we knew or could get a hold of couldn't come. The overall winner will be a combination from each class and not just the best vehicle mileage.

So, the overall best driver may not "Win" any class. I think it will be an interesting result. With many things to learn.

[bestmapman]

Originally Posted by pardreamer

In these 'races', people win with 150+ MPG with their prii, I don't know how they'd do it. Driving 30 MPG?

I think that 150 MPG will be higher then achieved in this event. The terrain is rolling with 75 ' elevation hills, so really high numbers will not likely be attainable. Also all participants are starting with the same SOC. I think it is going to be 60% to reflect a normal starting condition.

As far as average speed, it will probably be 30 MPH or under.

[Rokeby]

This sounds very interesting. Exciting even, if you get off on watching grass
grow. I am looking forward to seeing what the MPG numbers are, and with
luck a detailed report on the techniques used, etc. Dare I hope that someone
will pick it up for a televised report; Science Channel, MotorWeek, etc?

As to the probability that the course will be run at 30 MPH or so; to bring the
results somewhat close to reality, I'd like to see a highway "section" of say
30 miles that has to be completed at an average speed of 55 MPH. The MPG
nubers there would really get my juices flowing.

Lastly, I note that all the advertised competitors are from the US of A. It
makes me wonder why it HAS to be called a World Championship. It sounds
so "Ugly American" to my ear. Yes, I understand that the name anticipates a
more geographically diverse competition in the future.

But really, what's wrong with a National, or North American Championship?
Later there could be World Cup style regional competitions, and a real World
Championship.

[bestmapman]

Originally Posted by Rokeby

This sounds very interesting. Exciting even, if you get off on watching grass

It might be just a little more action then watching a stare down on the World Series of Poker.

Originally Posted by Rokeby

As to the probability that the course will be run at 30 MPH or so; to bring the results somewhat close to reality, I'd like to see a highway "section" of say 30 miles that has to be completed at an average speed of 55 MPH. The MPG nubers there would really get my juices flowing.

The highway segment was talked about, and will probably be implimented in the future, but it did not get in this first time.

Originally Posted by Rokeby

Lastly, I note that all the advertised competitors are from the US of A. It makes me wonder why it HAS to be called a World Championship. It sounds so "Ugly American" to my ear. Yes, I understand that the name anticipates a more geographically diverse competition in the future.

But really, what's wrong with a National, or North American Championship?
Later there could be World Cup style regional competitions, and a real World
Championship.

Invitiations were send to hypermilers in Canada, UK and Japan. Sadly none from the other countries were able to come. They will in the future.