70 Season Two

We’re back after our break, this show was mostly a run-through to make sure the equipment was still configured correctly and to ease everyone from the hosts to the listeners back into the show. There was a technical difficultly (I labeled Wayne’s channel wrong and the first 20 min was essentially me having a one sided conversation as far as the recording was concerened.) We trimmed the problem part and left the good parts in.

What made it into the recording was discussion on the 2011 - 2012 Chevrolet Volt, the 2012 Toyota Prius C, and the 2013 Chevrolet Malibu Eco.

Our hosts this week are Wayne Gerdes and Kacey Green.

Welcome back to the GoHypermiling Podcast, you have just gone Hypermiling!

Kacey Green

70 Season Two - GoHypermiling!

#41 Spill Baby Spill

 
Go Hypermiling Podcast

Type: Audio
Hosts: Wayne Gerdes, Kacey Green and Manuel Santos
Recorded: May 3, 2010
Music: Kaffe by Bobby Blitzkrieg & You Made Me Like It by 1990s 
Runtime: 40 min : 52 sec
Moderating: Kacey Green
Main Topics: Oil from spill is reported to have reached the coast, New Hyundai Elantra revealed and Ford Fusion Hybrid earns cost back fastest?
Sponsors: CleanMPG, Hybrid Canada, & Midlands Hybrid | Enginer PHEV kits, Midlands Honda, & CleanMPG Scangauges

Our Technique: Driving the Prius properly

First, there is the FCD… Then its Glide Baby Glide, Pulses and of course SHM…

 Oil From Spill Is Reported to Have Reached the Coast 

A disaster in the making and it may possibly be federalized.

A New Orleans’ resident and CleanMPG member can actually smell the spill in his neighborhood!

 New Hyundai Elantra revealed 

Like the stunning 11 Sonata, the 11 Elantra will surely turn heads as well!

Ford Fusion Hybrid earns cost back the fastest

Out of the Hybrid universes, a  report states that the Fusion Hybird has the quickest payback… We delve into the facts on this one.

Please feel free to post a comment or to leave an audio comment using the button on the sidebar of this site.

Wayne Gerdes
Go Hypermiling! 
“Hypermiling in today’s world”

#41 Spill Baby Spill - Go Hypermiling!

#37 Mazda's hybrid fighter: A Diesel ???

 
Go Hypermiling Podcast

Type: Audio
Hosts: Kacey Green and Manuel Santos
Recorded: April 13, 2010
Music: Test Drive by Black Kettle
Runtime: 33 min : 45 sec
Moderating: N/A
Technique: Squeezing your car for the best “summer time” fuel economy
Main Topics:Mazda’s diesel to take on hybrids & How I learned to love the Prius
Sponsors: CleanMPG, Hybrid Canada, & Midlands Hybrid | Enginer PHEV kits, Midlands Honda, & CleanMPG Scangauges

Our Technique segment discusses: Squeezing your car for the best “summer time” fuel economy.

We had a general discussion on how to prepare your car for the summer months. 

Mazda’s diesel to take on hybrids

“As other automakers rush to bring more hybrids to market, Mazda Motor Corp. is taking an entirely different approach to fuel economy.

The Japanese automaker plans to bring a diesel-powered midsized sedan to the United States in 2012 that will get 43 miles per gallon. That is better than any of today’s midsized hybrids, and Mazda promises its car will cost far less.

Consumer Reports test engineer Jake Fisher called it one of the most important announcements made at the New York auto show last week.

“That was big news, because we need a small displacement, fuel-efficient diesel that doesn’t cost an arm and a leg,” he said. “Volkswagen has one, but every other manufacturer seems scared of diesels. I think it’s fabulous that Mazda has thrown its hat in the ring.”

Mazda, Japan’s fifth-largest carmaker, has a history of contrarian thinking. It remains the only proponent of the rotary engine and has always found its biggest successes by zigging when other zag.

Its new Sky-D diesel is no exception. While the engine has been in development for years, Mazda CEO Takashi Yamanouchi said his company only decided to bring it to the U.S. market after learning Honda Motor Co. and Toyota Motor Corp. would not bring diesels here. Toyota does not see a “substantial” market for diesels in the United States”…

How I learned to love the Prius 

“Test-driving cars teaches you some lessons you wouldn’t expect.

That brings us to the curious case of the Toyota Prius. As I headed off to pick up the Toyota hybrid for an extended test, I felt like a Punjabi groom being pushed into an arranged marriage with an unattractive woman. I’d just finished driving three Mercedes and a Porsche – the idea of a two-week trip in a Prius was a serious comedown.

Now it was in our garage. And I didn’t like it. The Prius looked like an over-styled cheese wedge. And it didn’t sound like a car – when I pressed the Start button, it remained silent. The only sign of life was a “ready” sign that flashed up on a screen.

My wife and I headed south, toward Lookout Mountain, Ga. This was a trip we’ve done dozens of times over the past 25 years, but in the Prius, it was an alien experience. There were no gears to shift, and no tachometer to tell me how fast the engine was turning. The Prius’s propulsion system was hidden and mysterious, controlled by microchips. As a former mechanic and dedicated car guy, this offended my instincts. I felt like sticking a sign in the window that said, “This isn’t our car.”

Seven hundred kilometres later, we made our first gas stop. We were somewhere in Ohio. This was weird. In our Honda, we’d be lucky if we make it to the Canadian border without a fill-up. And the tank on the Prius was clearly smaller than the Honda’s – I filled it for less than $30 (U.S.).

This second fill-up took us almost all the way to Lookout. At first, we thought there must be a mistake. Countless people had told me that the fuel economy of the Prius was a myth. “Not much better than any other car,” one friend declared. They were wrong. We had gone more than 1,400 kilometres on just over 70 litres of fuel. Bargain!

And I had to admit that the Prius was starting to grow on me. I liked the way it glided silently down the highway, as if propelled by an invisible hand. And I was obsessed with the digital fuel-consumption displays. Getting 5.5 L/100 km was easy. When I tried, I could get it down to 3.5.

When we glided down a hill or put on the brakes, the display showed energy flowing back into the Prius battery. We were getting something for nothing!”…

Please feel free to post a comment or to leave an audio comment using the button on the sidebar of this site.

Kacey Green
Go Hypermiling! 
“Hypermiling in today’s world”

#37 Mazda's hybrid fighter: A Diesel ??? - Go Hypermiling!

#34 Stop that Prius!

Go Hypermiling Podcast

Type: Audio
Hosts: Kacey Green, Manuel Santos and Wayne Gerdes
Recorded: March 14, 2010
Music: Lee Coulter - Yoga Master
Runtime: 52 min : 51 sec
Moderating: Kacey Green
Technique: How to Survive a Runaway Prius
Main Topics:Out of Control Prius stopped by Patrol Car | Nissan says it has 56,000 Leaf preorders in U.S. alone | Journalists Squeeze 2011 Ford Super Duty For Impressive Fuel Economy

Sponsors: CleanMPG, Hybrid Canada, & Midlands Hybrid | Enginer PHEV kits, Midlands Honda, & CleanMPG Scangauges

 Our Technique segment this week is “how to survive a run-away Prius” 

1. Use the master switch to turn off the cruise control

2. Switch the hazard markers ON

3. Place the vehicle in N (neutral)

4. Make sure your right foot is on the brake pedal and not on the accelerator, and apply firm and steady pressure while safely steering in the intended direction.

5. If required, depress the power button for 2-3 seconds to completely power-down the vehicle

6. Bonus tip: How to stop any other “run-away” Toyota.

  Out-of-Control Prius Stopped by Patrol Car

On the very day Toyota was making a high-profile defense of its cars, one of them was speeding out of control.

It was a pretty frightening Monday afternoon for a driver in San Diego. The California Highway Patrol said the driver of a Toyota Prius, James Sikes, called 911 around 1:30 p.m. to say the car’s accelerator was stuck and he couldn’t slow it down.

The caller was driving eastbound on Interstate 8 near San Diego as this was happening, reports CBS News correspondent Ben Tracy. At one point the car was traveling at 90 mph.

The Highway Patrol responded. To get the runaway car to stop, they actually had to put their patrol car in front of the Prius and step on the brakes. The car eventually stopped near La Posta Bridge, but the whole even lasted for about 20 minutes… 

Nissan says it has 56,000 Leaf preorders in U.S. alone

While speaking at the Geneva Auto Show, a confident Carlos Ghosn, Nissan-Renault alliance head, spoke of the coming year and his planned dominance of the EV market. Ghosn pointed to competitors speaking of concept cars, while he has a tangible product that he believes will have no competition in the market.

As it stands now, Nissan is essentially a non-player in the hybrid and eco-conscious markets, having only one borrowed hybrid drivetrain from the Toyota Camry hybrid for its Altima sedan. But Carlos Ghosn has a tangible plan and product planned to help change the face of Nissan across the global markets – especially in the U.S. where having eco-alternatives is essentially a requirement for success.

“What I am sure is that in 2011, I am going to be the only one on the market,” Ghosn said, regarding a pure EV with mass production capability…

Journalists Squeeze 2011 Ford Super Duty For Impressive Fuel Economy

2011 Ford Super Duty – Over 35,000 pounds being moved up and down dirt roads of a working quarry. For heavy duty needs, there is none better… Or more fuel efficient!

Fuel efficiency and heavy duty trucks haven’t traditionally been talked about in the same sentence. That’s changed now, thanks to the 2011 Ford F-Series Super Duty.

Ford recently invited journalists to test-drive the new Super Duty in Arizona. During the program, Ford challenged these reporters to a contest to see who could achieve the best fuel economy while driving the Ford-built 6.7-liter Power Stroke® V8 on an 80-mile stretch of surface roads and highways. The winning media team on the first round achieved 29.2 MPG  and the second an astonishing 34 mpg! …  

Please feel free to post a comment or to leave an audio comment using the button on the sidebar of this site.

Wayne Gerdes
Go Hypermiling! 
“Hypermiling in today’s world”

#34 Stop that Prius! - Go Hypermiling!

#16 Silence is Golden - Go Hypermiling!

Go Hypermiling Podcast

Type: Audio
Hosts: Kacey Green, Manuel Santos and Wayne Gerdes
Recorded: October 4, 2009
Music: Thievery Corporation - DC 3000
Runtime: 36 min : 0 sec
Moderating: Kacey Green
Technique: Basic Setup
Main Topics: The Deadly Silence of the Electric Car, 2010 Prius III Prices on the Rise, Jack Rickard Leads the Quest for the Ultimate BEV
Sponsors: CleanMPG, Hybrid Canada, & Midlands Hybrid | Enginer PHEV Systems, Sunshine Toyota in Winnipeg, Palmetto Horse and Hound

First for our technique segment, Wayne teaches us about basic setup of our vehicles.

Next, Kacey has a surprise for us in the form of the pre-production CR-Z Concept car. We note the 6MT (6 speed Manual Transmission). We discussed engine sizes and fuel economy potential for the final version of the car. Kacey drops the thought provoking nugget that perhaps this car may have a dual clutched sequential transmission.

Kacey then brings us the news that folks are again trying to “bell the hybrids”; busybodies are again targeting hybrid cars and their owners with the misguided notion that the vehicles are too quiet and they absolutely have to stick their hooks into these cars and trucks. 

Manuel tells us about Jack Rickard and his pursuit of building the world’s best battery electric vehicle.

Finally Wayne tells us what’s happening in the world of the Prius 3G. Toyota has finally released details on the Prius I and pricing. I describe their efforts as trying to create an Insight competitor pricewise and failing miserably giving us a fat stripped down car that the typical Prius owner isn’t interested in. We discuss what this car means for fleets, and tinkerers, as well as try and decide if real people will be able to get their hands on this mythical unicorn. 

Please feel free to post a comment or to leave an audio comment using the button on the sidebar of this site.

Kacey Green & Wayne Gerdes
Go Hypermiling! 
“Hypermiling in today’s world”

#16 Silence is Golden - Go Hypermiling!

#15 Dump the Clunker - Go Hypermiling!

Go Hypermiling Podcast

Type: Audio
Hosts: Kacey Green, Manuel Santos and Wayne Gerdes
Recorded: September 27, 2009
Music: The Rapture - Sister Saviour (Blackstrobe Remix)
Runtime: 26 min : 29 sec
Moderating: Kacey Green
Technique: FAS (Forced Auto Stop)
Main Topics: Battle of the Titan’s and sometimes the favorite does not win…, Is the family sedan history? and 1959 Chevy Bel Air hit by 2009 Malibu.
Sponsors: CleanMPG, Hybrid Canada, & Midlands Hybrid | Enginer PHEV Systems, Sunshine Toyota in Winnipeg, Palmetto Horse and Hound

First up, Wayne describes the technique of FAS’ing on the go or at a standstill.

Next up, Kacey tells us that in the “Battle of the Titan’s, sometimes the favorite does not win…”

Manuel then discusses “Is the family sedan history?”

Finally Wayne describes how a “1959 Chevy Bel Air is crashed into a 2009 Chevrolet Malibu - He’s Dead Jim!”

Please feel free to post a comment or to leave an audio comment using the button on the sidebar of this site.

Kacey Green & Wayne Gerdes
Go Hypermiling!
“Hypermiling in today’s world”

#15 Dump the Clunker - Go Hypermiling!

Update on Oct 16, 2009 at 21:08 by Kacey Green

We promised we’d post the race videos from YouTube:

Pre-Qualification round:
 

 Race!:

 Hope you like it!

Kacey Green & Wayne Gerdes
Go Hypermiling! 
“Hypermiling in today’s world”

Update on Oct 18, 2009 at 16:49 by Kacey Green

We also forgot the video of the crash of the two Chevrolets.

#14 Nickel vs. Lithium - Go Hypermiling!

Go Hypermiling Podcast

Type: Audio
Hosts: Kacey Green, Manuel Santos and Wayne Gerdes
Recorded: September 20, 2009
Music: Spoon - Revenge!
Runtime: 29 min : 19 sec
Moderating: Kacey Green
Technique: Threading the Needle

Main Topics: Toyota decides to continue with Nickel after Plug-in Prius Test, In a heavy downpour, a young driver loses control and her life and Ford improves the European Focus Econetic even further.

Sponsors: CleanMPG, Hybrid Canada, & Midlands Hybrid | Enginer PHEV Systems, Sound Proof Foam, Midlands Honda

First up, Wayne describes the technique of Threading the Needle or maintaining momentum though a left turn even with traffic.

Next up, Manuel tells us that “Toyota has decided to continue with Nickel after Li-Ion equipped Plug-in Prius was tested.”

Kacey then describes “In a heavy downpour, a young driver loses control and her life.”

Finally Wayne describes how ”Ford has improved the European Focus ECOnetic even further.”

Please feel free to post a comment or to leave an audio comment using the button on the sidebar of this site.

Kacey Green & Wayne Gerdes
Go Hypermiling!
“Hypermiling in today’s world”

#14 Nickel vs. Lithium - Go Hypermiling!

#13: Round vs. Round - Go Hypermiling!

Go Hypermiling PodcastType: Audio  
Hosts: Kacey Green, Manuel Santos, Wayne Gerdes and our Special Guest Dan Kroushl
Recorded: September 13 2009 Music: Paul Westerberg - Looking Up In Heaven
Runtime: 44 min : 22 sec
Moderating: Kacey Green
Technique: NICE-On

Main Topics: All-new Ford designed and built 6.7L diesel for the 2011 Ford SuperDuty, When round and black becomes lean and green, and The Enginer - Plugin Hybrid Electric Vehicle PHEV Conversion System.

Sponsors: CleanMPG, Hybrid Canada, & Midlands Hybrid | Enginer PHEV Systems Scangauges, Sound Proof Foam, Midlands Honda

First up, Wayne describes the technique of NICE-On or letting the engine idle vs. fuel cut, engine braking and the AT.

Next up, we discuss the upcoming Ford 6.7L PowerStroke turbo-diesel engine scheduled for the 2011 Ford SuperDuty with Manuel.

Wayne then talks about the TireRack article “When Round and Black becomes Mean and Green“ using a multitude of tires on Prius-II’s. The tires were tested for Fuel Economy, wet and dry traction plus braking distances.

Our special guest, Dan Kroushl goes into great detail about the Enginer PHEV conversion he installed into his own 2004 Toyota Prius-II.

Please feel free to post a comment or to leave an audio comment using the button on the sidebar of this site.

Kacey Green & Wayne Gerdes
Go Hypermiling!
“Hypermiling in today’s world”

#13: Round vs. Round - Go Hypermiling!

#11: "I wouldn't leave home without it!" – Go Hypermiling!

Go Hypermiling PodcastType: Audio
Hosts: Kacey Green, Manuel Santos, Wayne Gerdes
Recorded: August 30, 2009 Music: Gilberto Gil - Oslodum
Runtime: 30 min : 24 sec
Moderating: Kacey Green
Technique: MIB or Marble in a Bowl
Main Topics: BMW’s Vision Concept, 2010 Toyota Prius broadens its appeal and reach, Letter to the Massachusetts State Police.
Sponsors: CleanMPG, Hybrid Canada, & Midlands Hybrid | Birchwood Collision Center, Honda Civic Hybrid, Midlands Honda

Kacey, Manuel, and Wayne discuss the future, the present and if you can’t drive right, maybe you shouldn’t drive at all?

First up, we discuss the technique of MIB (Marble in a bowl) or letting gravity tell you when to turn.

Next up, Wayne tells us about the BMW Vision Concept, BMW’s vision of the future.

Kacey then talks about the 2010 Toyota Prius broadens its appeal and reach, with an overview of who Prius buyers used to be vs. who they are today. 

We finish up with Manuel discussing an interesting topic in which a CleanMPG member puts forth an effort to change a State Troopers driving habits in Letter to the Massachusetts state police.

Please feel free to post a comment or to leave an audio comment using the button on the sidebar of this site.

Kacey Green & Wayne Gerdes
Go Hypermiling!
“Hypermiling in today’s world”

#11: "I wouldn't leave home without it!" – Go Hypermiling!

Go Hypermiling Podcast #1

Go Hypermiling Podcast

Go Hypermiling #1 – Pilot

Type: Audio
Hosts: Kacey Green, Manuel Santos, Wayne Gerdes
Moderating: Kacey Green
Technique: Three Lights Out / Anticipatory Focus
Main Topics: Prius vs. Insight Smack-down (only one main topic for this show)
Sponsors: CleanMPG, CleanMPG (Scangauge Division), Hybrid Canada, & Midlands Hybrid

This is our first podcast, we hope you enjoy it, please leave us feedback so we may improve this podcast as we move forward. We planned a lighter podcast than we would normally for the first episode.

We discussed the Three Lights Out technique and planned rabbit timing for the next technique. Prius versus Insight Smack-down got most of our attention. We also discussed our rides and more…

We enjoyed making this netcast / podcast for you and we hope you enjoy it too, we learned a fair amount to apply to our next show. This show will be recorded semi-regularly, about once a week.

Subscribe in your favorite Netcasting / Podcasting software such as iTunes and Zune, our feed address is: http://feeds.feedburner.com/GoHypermiling-Podcasts, you don’t need a portable MP3 Player to use our netcasts, though we try to make it a good listen for your commute.

If you want to listen right now and don’t have netcasting software available, listen now in your web browser: Go Hypermiling #1 - Pilot.

Kacey Green
Go Hypermiling!
“Hypermiling in today’s world”

Go Hypermiling - #1 - Pilot