Our Three D$W Instructors, Justin Fons, Bradlee Fons and wayne Gerdes and D$W in action

Fuel efficient driving is over 80 years old and set the foundation to $mart Driving.

Shell Oil Fuel Marathon: 

1939 - Present

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shell_Eco-marathon

Mobil Fuel Economy Runs: 1936-1968

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mobil_Economy_Run

The idea of Driver Energy Conservation Awareness Training was formalized as a training program (DECAT) by the Department of Energy in the late 1970's. This report reviews the curriculum of that program, its basis in engineering tests and principles, its past activities and achievements, and its potential, and makes recommendations for a renewed program. There is ample evidence that typical drivers can reduce fuel 

consumption by at least 10% by the way they maintain and operate their vehicles. The original DOE program was reasonably successful in reaching motor vehicle fleets, especially in government. Challenges for a new DECAT program include increasing its outreach to the general motoring public, fostering research and transfer to the marketplace of effective driver feedback devices, and incorporating DECAT training into the driver education and licensing process, nationwide. Depending on the effectiveness of DECAT, motor fuel savings could range up to 10 billion gallons annual.

https://doee.dc.gov/service/fuel-saving-tips-drivers

As fuel costs continue to rise and greenhouse gas emissions rise the European Union and Canada create fuel efficient driving programs:

European Eco Drive: 

1997-Present

http://www.ecodrive.org/

Canadian Auto Smart: 

2005 - 2017

https://www.nrcan.gc.ca/energy-efficiency-transportation-alternative-fuels/20996

Taking all the historical fuel efficient driving techniques since 1939 and adding the hans on driving experience from 2 World Record holders, Wayne Gerdes and Justin Fons, the "Tools for a Lifetime" driver training program was created.

"Gas-saving driving habits, can help you achieve up to 40 percent more miles per gallon (mpg) than your car’s official fuel economy estimate. 

Take, for example, a 2005 Honda Accord, a best selling sedan with an mpg rating of 24 (21 city, 31 highway). According to Wayne Gerdes — who coined the term “hypermiling” and is considered by many to be its leading expert and trainer — an Accord driver who is savvy to hypermiling can expect to get about 35 mpg. Dedicated hypermilers can achieve 50 percent or better improvement over their vehicles’ estimated mpg figures. Last year, 

Gerdes set a world record for distance in a gas-powered, mid size sedan by driving 1,445 miles on a single tank of fuel in a 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid. That’s 81 mpg — more than double the vehicle’s Environmental Protection Agency rating of 39 mpg.

Out of a desire to lessen the United States’ reliance on foreign oil and show us all how to save gas, Gerdes started an online community  - Cleanmpg In 2006 to provide hypermiling tips and a forum for hypermiling enthusiasts.

“The world has experienced fuel economy tips and tricks, snake-oil magic elixirs, and eco-driving tips for well over two decades,” Gerdes says. “But what did we get? Broken promises and shattered dreams. Hypermiling not only makes you a more aware driver, but it also produces fuel savings that few other methods or practices ever will.”

While Gerdes and his experienced team used advanced hypermiling methods to achieve the extraordinary results in the Fusion Hybrid, it’s possible to significantly improve gas mileage in everyday driving with simple hypermiling techniques."

Honda Insight Tonkawa Marathon; 

2,254 miles on a tank of gas

http://www.cleanmpg.com/community/index.php?threads/2783/

Honda Civic Hybrid 48 State Marathon: 

68.54 mpg over 7,496 miles

http://www.cleanmpg.com/community/index.php?threads/17869/

http://www.cleanmpg.com/community/index.php?portal/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Energy-efficient_driving

https://www.caa.ca/ecodriving/

http://ecodriver.org/pages/Fuel-

EfficientDriving.php

D$W holds free public Meets at the Greenfield WI. Public Library throughout the year. Our D$W Meets are great place to learn how to Drive $mart as well as to learn about hybrids, plugins and electric vehicles.

As nice as it would be to own an EV, they may be out of your immediate price range and perhaps a conventional vehicle that gets good mileage may better fit your needs. 

But in the meantime, you can start saving money immediately to purchase a new vehicle by learning to Drive $marter in your current vehicle. 

Lower your fuel costs today and put that money towards a newer car tomorrow. We’re glad to help you!

If you are willing to change your driving habits, then Drive$mart Wisconsin will be at your service. After 13 years of hands-on training, the following D$W tips have been proven to save you money, every time you drive. 

Our D$W tips will work both to maximize MPG in gas cars and extend driving range in electrified vehicles.

An alternative fuel vehicle (AFV) is a vehicle that runs on substances other than the conventional petroleum gas and diesel.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alternative_fuel_vehicle

http://www.cleanmpg.com/community/index.php?portal/

https://afdc.energy.gov/fuels/

https://afdc.energy.gov/

https://www.cargurus.co.uk/Cars/articles/a_beginners_guide_to_alternative_fuels

https://www.consumerreports.org/cro/2011/05/pros-and-cons-a-reality-check-on-alternative-fuels/index.htm

https://www.energy.gov/maps/egallon?fbclid=IwAR2JZnaS8A9VreVRCsryeW-CC4HWDWKePaz4BXlgv5_2WB41-vk-Ze8ToxE

What's the best AFV for me and my needs with cost analysis?

https://www.myev.com/

https://afdc.energy.gov/calc/

https://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/findacar.shtml

https://www.car.com/buying-guides/alternative-fuel-vehicles/

https://afdc.energy.gov/fuels/electricity_benefits.html

https://ev.pge.com/

https://www.myev.com/research/ev-101/10-questions-to-ask-yourself-before-buying-an-electric-vehicle

If you want to burn less gas, you have to get your power from somewhere else. Hybrid cars combine battery-powered electric motors and gas-powered internal combustion engines to provide impressive fuel economy gains. Most hybrids are capable of running solely on electricity or combining both power sources to boost acceleration, depending on the situation. 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hybrid_vehicle

https://www.caranddriver.com/features/a26390899/what-is-hybrid-car/

https://www.edmunds.com/hybrid/articles/best-hybrid-cars/

https://www.trustedchoice.com/insurance-articles/wheels-wings-motors/hybrid-vs-gas/

A plug-in vehicle (PHEV or PHV), also known as a plug-in hybrid, is a hybrid electric vehicle with rechargeable batteries that can be restored to full charge by connecting a plug to an external electric power source. 

A plug-in hybrid shares the characteristics of both a conventional hybrid electric vehicle and an all electric vehicle: it uses a gasoline engine and an electric motor for propulsion, but a PHEV has a larger battery pack that can be recharged, allowing operation in all electric mode until the battery is depleted

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plug-in_electric_vehicle

https://cars.usnews.com/cars-trucks/what-is-a-plug-in-hybrid

https://www.cars.com/articles/whats-the-difference-between-a-hybrid-and-a-plug-in-hybrid-1420700064361/

An electric car is an alternative fuel automobile that uses electric motors and motor controllers for propulsion, in place of more common propulsion methods such as the internal combustion engine (ICE). Electricity can be used as a transportation fuel to power battery electric vehicles (EVs). EVs store electricity in an energy storage device, such as a battery. The electricity powers the vehicle's wheels via an electric motor. EVs have limited energy storage capacity, which must be replenished by plugging into an electrical source.

https://ev.pge.com/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electric_vehicle

https://www.energy.gov/eere/electricvehicles/electric-vehicle-basics

About 90% of all D$W members drive an alternative fuel vehicle and have owned them since they first arrived on the market in 2001 and they have thousands of miles of driving experience to share.

They would love you to take a free test drive and will tell you about the many benefits in ownership.

Instead of going to a dealer with limited knowledge or available vehicles, our members own just about every AFV on the market today.

One stop shopping is what we can offer you if you're considering moving on to an AFV.