A couple of nights ago, my brother remarked that he'd started driving more like me. Gas prices here in Austin have reached nearly $3.00/gal, and I guess he has decided it's time to start paying attention to his driving technique in order to maximize his mileage.

That got me to thinking about a way I might use the current gas price situation to my financial advantage by offering private lessons on driving for maximum fuel efficiency.

Here's what I've thought up so far... I would post an announcement offering my services on austin.craigslist and probably some other local forums, with a link to my car dopmobile's entry in the FE database here on the GreenHybrid site as proof that I've attained the skills necessary to teach the subject matter at hand. Students would be asked to meet me at my house, and we'd head to a nearby gas station to top off their tank.

For the first phase of the lesson, we would drive around, doing some city, highway and backroad country driving, with me as the driver. During this phase, I would try to learn their car's personality while explaining the actions I was using to save fuel.

Phase two would begin back at the pump we'd filled up at earlier, to top off the tank and calculate the MPG we'd attained during phase 1. The student would drive the same route used in phase 1, while I monitored their technique and provided pointers. We would again end up at the same pump for a top-off and MPG calculation for their trip.

Phase three of the lesson would see the driver off with a small pamphlet or postcard with a bullet list of techniques to remind them of the techniques they'd learned. Okay, so that's not really a 'phase'

If I decide to undertake this task, and find that I'm successful both in actually gaining interest in the form of real customers and in their subsequent success stories, I'll approach UT's Informal Classes people to suggest a classroom-based version of the class for larger groups of people.

(edit: This lesson would be offered to all drivers, not just hybrid owners. Also, I would not teach techniques like rebooting or high-speed FAS that are impractical for non-hybrid cars.)

As you've probably guessed, the point of me posting this here is to solicit your feedback. Is this a dumb idea? Will it work? Got any tips in case I decide to try it?

Certainly not dumb, but I'm not sure I'd be willing to pay a tuition in order to save $ at the pumps. That's part of the reason so many non-members have been adamently visiting GH in the past few days I suppose.

I think it certainly is the "right" time to offer something like this. We are awash in self help books, so why not a short course on driving technique to improve fuel mileage. What do you think people would pay for something like this?

The only problem I see is your location. I've got relatives in Texas, and I didn't think you where able to tell a Texan how to do anything. They're pretty headstrong.

Hope it goes well.

Kansas, not as flat as you think...

I'm not sure what people would be willing to pay. Maybe $40, which would amount to about $10-$13/hr depending on how long a course I create.

Austin is different than most of Texas. Check any of the 2004 presidential election maps... that little blue dot deep in the heart of Texas is where you'll find us

I've already got my first two customers! My mom reads my weblog, and replied to a post I made there about my idea. She wants me to teach her and my stepdad what I've learned. Unfortunately, they also want me to do it for free :p Oh well... Actually, I guess it'd be good practice for when I have real customers.

I wouldn't charge too much. Figure how much the average person pays for gas and figure how much money they would save for gas and then charge them how much they would save after 4 tanks of gas or so.

Thats just a rough idea but you want to make it fiancialy profitable for them. Whats the point of them learning how to drive if there isn't a reasonably quick pay off.

My hydroponics experiment

You ever notice how hard it is to lip read cartoon characters?
"Crazy is what the sane call Delta Flyer"

VERY interesting idea.

Good Luck, and let us know how it goes.

Perhaps you could have a guarantee of sorts ? One time around they drive as usual, then last lap with gas saving techniques. At least 20% improvement, or free next lesson

R2-E2, 2G Prius.
Highway/City/Husband/Wife MPG: 56.5, as of 12/2005, 26K miles

Jac Nasser, Ford President: "We are planning to launch a hybrid version of
this car [P2000] within this year [1998]. We will also make FCEV available in
2004."

Hi Doppler:

___A little advice that may or may not help … I have taught 2 discussion clinics (besides the info posted here ) and 3 driving ones to date. What I think needs to be highlighted is an explanation as to why each of the techniques you will use offers an improvement over just driving. After the discussion, then the real world hypermiling drive to receive the proof of concept. I would also consider having a dry erase board when describing how each of the techniques work because a picture is worth a thousand words as you can well imagine. In simpler terms, turn the clinic into a class room session for the theory portion and a driving clinic for the real world results. Just like school but far more practical …

___And in a similar light, Ericbecky is planning a P&G clinic with discussion beforehand (real world results and why it improves ones FE) and then a practical real world drive with 3 or 4 drivers training up to 9 - 12 others in various HSD equipped automobiles. This will happen just 2 weekends from now at the Madison - Hybrid Group meet on September 17th in case any other Illini, Wisconsinites, or Minnesotans are interested in attending … Anyone interested in learning about and seeing in practice some of the advanced techniques we use can contact Eric via E-Mail at madisonhybridgroup@gmail.com for even more information. I am looking at setting up some carpools for those of us coming from Illinois if that helps …

___Good Luck

___Wayne R. Gerdes
___Waynegerdes@earthlink.net

Wayne, I hope someone could tape that for those of us who can not attend.
I'll send Eric an email.

Efficient drivers do it better.
1003 miles a tank personal record. 74MPG calculated. HCH1 CVT

Hi Hot_Georgia_2004:

___Tbaleno was thinking about doing just that at our last get together … He snapped some pics as posted in the Share section but maybe this time around I can get him to tape some of the highlights? By next weekend, I am going to have to get my own act together because unlike the very informal clinics held previously, this is starting to get serious.

___Good Luck

___Wayne R. Gerdes
___Waynegerdes@earthlink.net

Hey, it is admirable to offer how to teach people how to drive more efficiently. However, there are a variety of ways to drive a car efficiently. A Jeep 2001 Wrangler drives efficiently differently from a Ford F150. My good driving mantra goes...

No fast acceleration
Check tire pressure
Maintenance

Beyond that you maybe need to change the firmware in the car or...

http://www.thinkgeek.com/gadgets/electronic/72fc/

I have a realtime MPG on my Ford and it is tougher than an NVA drill instructor. I found that using the computer and altering driving habits I get nearly 35 MPG with the AWD.

If you can make money doing a class, then great. Just keep in kind that you need some concrete prrof you can deliver. This will probably require some free classes. Someone coming to me as some sort of MPG 'coach' had better deliver. Personally, I'd just suggest the above device.