THE GLOBE'S Prius hybrid miles per gallon competition ("Won't get fueled again," Living & Arts, June 28) was more than a fun read. It illustrated what we should all be doing for us to spend less of our incomes on gasoline.
The competition's clear lessons are: purchase a smaller, lighter vehicle; purchase one with a more efficient engine and transmission (for example, a hybrid); keep maximum driving speeds down; avoid hard acceleration and braking; anticipate the stop light and traffic behavior so the vehicle "glides"; use heating, air conditioning, lighting, and windshield wipers to meet only our minimum needs; keep the tires properly inflated; don't unnecessarily store a baby stroller (or golf clubs or tool boxes) in the trunk; and try not to get lost since it adds extra miles.
In the Globe's informal contest, these five Priuses got about 60 miles per gallon, significantly higher than the 45 miles per gallon these vehicles get in normal driving. Drivers in the average car or light truck get about 25 miles per gallon; we can obviously offset the rising price of gasoline by first moderating our driving behavior, and then, when we're ready, through a thoughtful vehicle purchase. As the article illustrates, strategizing to "beat the system" and succeeding can make driving fun.
Alex Beam, a self-proclaimed Mr. Fussy, wrote an instructive and charming column.
JOHN B. HEYWOOD
Cambridge
The writer is director Of the Sloan Automotive Lab at the Massachusetts Institute Of Technology.
