SkierSteve
Member
With the prospect of $5 per gallon gas looming, I'm looking for any edge I can get get to reduce my transportation costs to my hiking destinations. So I decided to try a very un-scientific analysis of how highway speed affects fuel economy. Now I know this is pretty basic and probubly well known to all but the differences in MPG between speeds was a bit of a surprize.
I tried a series of 20 mile tests on Route 93 in NH, both North and South bound. I drive an Acura MDX and used the trip computer for distance traveled and to measure exact fuel consumption. I also used cruise control to maintain a constant speed. Fortunately, I was traveling in both directions at periods of low traffic and was able maintain fairly constant speeds. The results are:
80 MPH- 20.1 MPG
75 MPH- 21.5 MPG
70 MPH- 24.7 MPG
65 MPH- 25.8 MPG
60 MPH- 26.2 MPG
I found the results to be a little startling. Obviously all vehicles will react differently but for me 65 -70 is now the sweet spot. Hope this information is useful. Happy Trails!!
I tried a series of 20 mile tests on Route 93 in NH, both North and South bound. I drive an Acura MDX and used the trip computer for distance traveled and to measure exact fuel consumption. I also used cruise control to maintain a constant speed. Fortunately, I was traveling in both directions at periods of low traffic and was able maintain fairly constant speeds. The results are:
80 MPH- 20.1 MPG
75 MPH- 21.5 MPG
70 MPH- 24.7 MPG
65 MPH- 25.8 MPG
60 MPH- 26.2 MPG
I found the results to be a little startling. Obviously all vehicles will react differently but for me 65 -70 is now the sweet spot. Hope this information is useful. Happy Trails!!