Cutting vehicle weight saves gas. And despite idealistic notions of an entire nation driving Honda Fits, it won’t happen—too many people really do need midsize, full-size, or truck-based vehicles. So what’s the actual impact of cutting weight? On Tuesday, Michael Bull, director of technology at Novelis Corporation, presented data from two studies that quantified the fuel savings from a given weight reduction.
On cold winter days, all vehicles, machines (and people) get less mileage to the gallon. Hybrids drivers care about fuel economy, and will notice the difference more than others.
Testing from the Idaho National Laboratory revealed that the use of air conditioning has a dramatic impact on hybrid fuel economy.
High-performance vehicles get relatively more efficient at high speeds, while hybrid efficiency remains constant. Aggressive driving burns more gas for both.
Improving the way a vehicle moves through air is simultaneously the least expensive and most effective way for carmakers to increase fuel efficiency.
Learn how the tires you choose affect your car's handling, performance, and mileage.
