Driver Weight Versus Mpg

[OctoberGlory]

I'm sure Elio has calculated the ideal Gross Vehicle Weight rating needed to achieve 84MPG. I wonder what that number is?

I'm also curious how the weight of the driver will impact fuel mileage. What if a driver lost 10 or 20 pounds? Would that be worth a couple extra miles per gallon?

 

[BillJ]

losing 10 to 20 lbs shouldn't make much of a difference at all.

 

[JEBar]

I don't know .... a good while back EM was reported to be paying close attention to the windshield wipers in an effort to reduce wind drag .... if they are worried about something like that, how much weight could it take to make a difference ?

Jim

 

[Craig]

I'm sure Elio has calculated the ideal Gross Vehicle Weight rating needed to achieve 84MPG. I wonder what that number is?

I'm also curious how the weight of the driver will impact fuel mileage. What if a driver lost 10 or 20 pounds? Would that be worth a couple extra miles per gallon?

Every little bit helps, but only in the long run.

Can't find it, but I think this got them an extra 80 miles.

A slight woman of about 100 pounds and 5-feet, 4-inches tall, Jeana Yeager cut her long dark hair to a boyish bob to keep it out of the way during the long flight--and to cut down on unnecessary weight.

http://www.interestingtopics.net/first-non-stop-flight-around-the-world-id-282

https://www.google.com/webhp?source...TF-8#q=airline drops magazines to save weight

 

[karl]

http://www.tuneruniversity.com/blog/2012/03/power-to-weight-ratio/

 

[zelio]

I'm sure Elio has calculated the ideal Gross Vehicle Weight rating needed to achieve 84MPG. I wonder what that number is?

I'm also curious how the weight of the driver will impact fuel mileage. What if a driver lost 10 or 20 pounds? Would that be worth a couple extra miles per gallon?

If nothing else, it can improve the driver's health. LOL :-) Z

 

[Jambe]

http://www.interestingtopics.net/first-non-stop-flight-around-the-world-id-282

Good memories of that. I contributed to the Voyager's flight, shook Jeana Yeager's hand, and put my name in the logbook.

 

[BlioKart]

If nothing else, it can improve the driver's health. LOL Z

That's probably the best benefit. I am sure we all wouldn't mind being a few(or more) lbs lighter. Weight reduction will help regardless to what degree. What value you put on it is left to be determined by each person.

Reminds me of F1 at the beginning of the season teams were looking to save as many lbs as needed. So the drivers became the place to lose a pound or 5.

 

[Mark Ambrose]

I'm sure Elio has calculated the ideal Gross Vehicle Weight rating needed to achieve 84MPG. I wonder what that number is?

I'm also curious how the weight of the driver will impact fuel mileage. What if a driver lost 10 or 20 pounds? Would that be worth a couple extra miles per gallon?

Weight is the primary variable for fuel economy in city driving. Aerodynamic drag is the primary variable for fuel economy in highway driving. Dropping 10-20 lbs will absolutely improve fuel economy. Whether or not the improvement is enough to actually notice is the question. As a percentage of total mass 10 or 20 lbs is a lot in the Elio compared to a car that weighs 3,000 lbs.

 

[wheaters]

A heavier all up vehicle weight will result in a noticeable MPG reduction during town driving, but not so much out on the open road.

It takes a lot more power and therefore a lot more energy to accelerate a heavier wheeled object, but relatively little increase to keep it travelling at constant speed. Constant speed driving is more affected by aerodynamic drag, rather than weight. There will be some marginal effect due to the extra load on the wheel bearings but that's about all.

Edit: Only just read the post above mine. We agree!