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I know this topic can be somewhat controversial so let me say I am not suggesting un-safe driving practices but I want to share my experience in my gen 3 Touring while drafting other vehicles at highway speeds. Drafting means to follow other vehicles to take advantage of the reduced wind resistance behind the leading vehicle. Unsafe driving practices can happen when the trailing vehicle follows too closely (tailgating).
I initially tried drafting with my gen 2 Insight. While testing, I found that I could increase mileage by 2-3 MPG while traveling at what I thought was the minimum safe distance from the leading vehicle. I gave it up because I thought the level of attention needed to keep this minimum safe distance was too stressful to maintain, especially on longer trips.
Then along comes gen 3 with adaptive cruise control and some might consider it a bit of a game changer for safer drafting. I recently completed a 675 mile trip and had good opportunity to assess. For my test I configured ACC to the maintain the Honda configured minimum follow safe distance from the leading vehicle. When leading vehicle was lost (leaving highway), I attempted to acquire another vehicle to follow traveling at my target speed as soon as possible, but I maintained target speed of 67 to 70 mph throughout testing, including control testing. Testing was done for 1 hour under both scenarios under similar conditions.
MPG with drafting = 47
Control MPG (no drafting) = 43
I was happy with both results. Car was loaded with excess of 500 lbs of people, dog, and luggage. Also, my wife had her the electric seat warmer on the whole time!
I sought out larger vehicles such as Vans, and Trucks to follow. It was apparent almost immediately the car went into EV mode more of the time when drafting (and now no stress in keeping my distance from the leading vehicle). I realize drafting is not for everyone and there may be some risks that some people don't want to make and that's OK, but I thought my experience interesting enough to share with the group.
I initially tried drafting with my gen 2 Insight. While testing, I found that I could increase mileage by 2-3 MPG while traveling at what I thought was the minimum safe distance from the leading vehicle. I gave it up because I thought the level of attention needed to keep this minimum safe distance was too stressful to maintain, especially on longer trips.
Then along comes gen 3 with adaptive cruise control and some might consider it a bit of a game changer for safer drafting. I recently completed a 675 mile trip and had good opportunity to assess. For my test I configured ACC to the maintain the Honda configured minimum follow safe distance from the leading vehicle. When leading vehicle was lost (leaving highway), I attempted to acquire another vehicle to follow traveling at my target speed as soon as possible, but I maintained target speed of 67 to 70 mph throughout testing, including control testing. Testing was done for 1 hour under both scenarios under similar conditions.
MPG with drafting = 47
Control MPG (no drafting) = 43
I was happy with both results. Car was loaded with excess of 500 lbs of people, dog, and luggage. Also, my wife had her the electric seat warmer on the whole time!
I sought out larger vehicles such as Vans, and Trucks to follow. It was apparent almost immediately the car went into EV mode more of the time when drafting (and now no stress in keeping my distance from the leading vehicle). I realize drafting is not for everyone and there may be some risks that some people don't want to make and that's OK, but I thought my experience interesting enough to share with the group.