(7-14-08)
Michael Garfield is a technology buff who hosts a weekly radio show in Houston. Dan Bryant is known as an automotive efficiency expert, or hypermiler. That's someone who can get more miles per gallon out of car than the EPA recommended mileage. Garfield and Bryant came to town as part of their five city tour of Texas cities. Their trying to show everyone that you can increase your fuel mileage no matter what you drive. Dan says that you should always accelerate slowly. Make sure your oil and tire pressure are correct. Drive the speed limit or less, it can save you about 30 percent on your fuel bill. Also, drive like you're on a bicycle. In other words, you wouldn't speed up on your bicycle as you approached a stoplight and then slam on your brakes. So, why do that in a car? Coast up to the red light in an attempt to keep from having to stop. Think ahead and take your foot off the gas pedal 50 to 70 yards away and it will help you save fuel. Dan Bryant is following those same tips in his Toyota Prius as he attempts to drive from Houston to Corpus, then onto San Antonio, Austin, Dallas and back to Houston on one tank of gas. The Prius only has an 11 gallon gas tank.

Michael Gibson