SmartEnergyViews

The 2009 Ford Escape, equipped with a new 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, six-speed automatic transmission and front-wheel drive, delivers best-in-class fuel economy in the small SUV segment with 28 highway/20 city mpg.

The 2009 Escape Hybrid remains the most fuel-efficient SUV, delivering 34 city mpg and an improved highway rating of 31 mpg - a 1 mpg increase versus the 2008 model.

According to Ford, the Escape's new 2.5-liter I-4 engine uses intake variable cam timing (iVCT) technology for increased power and improved efficiency. The powertrain also incorporates electronic throttle control (ETC), dual-mode crankshaft damping and new intake and exhaust manifolds, which contribute to greater fuel efficiency. And a new optional six-speed automatic transmission contributes up to a 6 percent increase in fuel efficiency.

A new front chin spoiler and rear tire spoilers help reduce wind drag, providing a gain of 0.75 mpg at 70 mph. Escape also features new low-rolling-resistance tires developed in cooperation with Michelin.

Escape Hybrid remains the most fuel-efficient SUV on the planet. For 2009, the Hybrid achieved a 1 mpg improvement on the highway, for 34 city/31 highway mpg. The upgraded Hybrid model will use the new 2.5-liter I-4 designed to run on the Atkinson combustion cycle. A new engine processor enables smoother transitions between gas and electric vehicle mode, and control system enhancements provide more electric mode driving, switching over from gas at 35 mph rather than 25 mph with the previous model.

AAA is advising hypermilers to think of safety first and avoid hypermiling techniques that are dangerous to themselves and others and that might damage their vehicles.

"The goals of hypermiling are positive, such as eliminating aggressive driving and saving energy," said Marshall L. Doney, AAA Automotive vice president. "Unfortunately some motorists have taken their desire to improve fuel economy to extremes with techniques that put themselves, as well as their fellow motorists, in danger."

Examples of the dangerous hypermiling techniques include cutting off the vehicle's engine or putting it in neutral to coast on a roadway, tailgating or drafting larger vehicles, rolling through stop signs and driving at erratic and unsafe speeds. "These practices can put motorists in a treacherous situation where they could lose power steering and brakes or be unable to react to quickly changing traffic conditions," Doney said.

"Not only are these extreme driving behaviors dangerous, many of them also are illegal. However, there are several safe and legal driving techniques motorists can implement to conserve fuel, such as smooth and easy acceleration and braking, maintaining a steady speed, using cruise control and looking ahead to anticipate changing traffic conditions," he said.

Proper vehicle maintenance is also key to optimal fuel economy, but extreme measures can be harmful to a vehicle.

Keeping tires properly inflated can improve fuel economy by two to three percent, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. However, some drivers have taken this advice too far by over-inflating their tires, which the Rubber Manufacturers Association reports can make them more susceptible to road hazard damage and result in premature wear to the center portion of the tread. Over-inflation can also cause handling issues due to less tire surface making contact with the road.

Some hypermilers also opt to use the lowest 'weight' motor oil (or that with the lowest kinematic viscosity) on the market. However, motor oil is not a fluid that can be freely interchanged and using too light of oil can cause major damage to a vehicle's engine.

In both instances, AAA's auto maintenance experts recommend checking the owner's manual for the manufacturer's recommendations. Tires should only be inflated to the pressures specified by the vehicle manufacturer -- and not what is listed on the sidewall of the tire. Motorists also should use the lowest grade motor oil recommended by the manufacturer for their climate.

Of course the Toyota Prius and Honda Civic Hybrid are the MPG kings, but there are plenty of cars that get great mileage.

In fact, of the top 10 most fuel efficient vehicles (with duplicate models eliminated), five are non-hybrid standard models and all get a combined 29 MPG or more.

Here's a list from the EPA database of every make/model that gets 25MPG or more. Buy one used and save even more!

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Customers of TXU Energy (a Texas utility company) can get a free iThermostat that hooks up to the internet.

It's similar to programmable thermostats that let you have different settings for the days of the week and times of the day, except it communicates wirelessly with a bridge device connected to your home network so you can program it from anywhere.

Details here.

GM had a big, green, full page ad in the Sunday New York Times entitled "We need to talk." It touts their commitment to the environment and energy efficiency.

It says that because they have a large environmental footprint they have an obligation to change. They say the are one of the leading users of renewable energy, that they have reduced CO2 emissions at their facilities by 80% since 1990, that they have 14 facilities that send no waste from production operations to landfills.

So far so good.

But then they say "there is no greater proof of our commitment to change than the ongoing development of gas-friendly to gas-free fuel solutions by our Chevrolet brand" and that they are "making vehicles with better fuel efficiency than ever before."

Really?

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We purchased our 2007 Prius on March 31st of 2007, and it rolled over 10,000 miles sometime during the last weekend of December on a trip to Memphis (trip avg. 52.1 MPG, 95% highway driving).

We have been getting a fairly consistent overall average of about 50 MPG, a little less in the summer (~48 MPG) with the AC running (or when the leadfoot Mrs. is driving) and a little more in mild weather. By my calculations, we have saved approx. $700 in fuel costs.

The only other cost has been the regular 5000 mile service, which was about $90. The only problem we've had (knock on wood) was a power door lock that jammed. Toyota replaced it under warranty at no charge.

So far we love it. Toyota sold 181,221 Prius hybrids in 2007, up 69% over 2006.