General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsIf you live in an area that is flat, you probably get better gas mileage than you would if you lived
in an area that is rolling, hilly, or downright mountainous.
I just happened to think of that.
That is, of course, all things being equal (are they ever?).
liberal N proud
(60,346 posts)It all equals out.
raccoon
(31,126 posts)dmallind
(10,437 posts)unless of course your decline is smooith, straight and gentle enough to allow maximal coasting. Once you have to consider stoplights, intersections, sharp curves etc all that "free" downhill energy gets tougher to keep.
I actually tested this with a 1600' up and down work commute a fw years back. Now with an EV and regeneration we might get closer, albeit regen is not that efficient and friction still applies so still likely to lose some.
Go Vols
(5,902 posts)My car tells me what mileage I am getting in real time.Going up a mtn near here I get between 12-16 mpg,coming down I get over 100 mpg.
4th law of robotics
(6,801 posts)People don't realize how good we have it nowadays.
RC
(25,592 posts)The largest flat land area in the world. I lived there for 15 years.
High ground is when you step up on the curb.
http://www.mbbnet.umn.edu/hoff/hoff_agassiz.html
DisgustipatedinCA
(12,530 posts)Tom Friedman said so.
stevedeshazer
(21,653 posts)That was funny.
KG
(28,753 posts)MineralMan
(146,333 posts)Driving an 24' moving truck purchased from UHaul at maximum GVW (18,000 lb) taught me that. Uphill all the way, I'm quite certain. Average MPG with that truck was 3, and that was never exceeding 55 MPH. 2500 miles - all uphill. I also discovered that Amarillo, TX is at almost 4000 feet altitude. in 95 degree weather with a raging thunderstorm, that was almost the downfall of that move. I finally had to remove the air conditioning condenser from in front of the radiator to keep the truck from overheating. So, after that I had no air conditioning.
Uff Da! What a trip!
Kolesar
(31,182 posts)Then the car would have higher "rolling resistance"
JNelson6563
(28,151 posts)Here in the northern part of Michigan's mitten it's pretty hilly, lots of ski hills and stuff! You won't see reports of tornadoes making their way this far north though, they stick around down in the flat (better mileage) land.
Julie
TheManInTheMac
(985 posts)JNelson6563
(28,151 posts)Fumesucker
(45,851 posts)If you are gentle (but not *too* gentle) on acceleration, use the brakes as little as possible and take every opportunity to coast you will get significantly better mileage in the same vehicle than someone who lead foots around, never coasts and stands on the brakes at the last moment.
That's much more significant than whether you have hills or not.
A HERETIC I AM
(24,380 posts)Big people use more soap.
Just sayin'
taterguy
(29,582 posts)Well, at least we get beaches and mountains that they don't have.