For some time, I’ve recorded the measurements discussed in the previous post (which I will be presenting in a future post), but I thought it might be good thing if I tried to gather some vehicle data as well.

For a long time, I’ve been looking into the ScanGuage by Linear-Logic, but it currently offers no data-logging. Although I have read they are working on a new version with this feature. In the mean time, I’m thinking of purchasing a Davis Instruments CarChip Pro. It doesn’t log all parameters possible, but it does give you the ability to choose which 4 parameters to log.

ScanGuage II

CarChip Pro

Currently, I’m hooked into Progressive’s MyRate program and although you can achieve up to a 25% discount on your insurance, I drive far too much to get anything but the minimum 5% discount for my car by just being in the plan. I tend to agree with Arron Landry about the data being worth far more than my 5% discount. I guess I’d be far less skeptical of this program if I had access to all the raw data I believe they are capturing about my driving habits.

MyRate "Device"

I might even run a combination of these devices using a y-splitter for my obd II port from OBD2Cables.

OBD II Y-Cable

Whatever the current experiment, I will be continuously monitoring the following parameters of each commute:

1. Date
2. Start Time
3. Starting Temp
4. Cold tire pressure
5. Wind Direction
6. Weather – (Clear, Rain, Heavy Rain, Ice/Snow)
7. Attempted Average Speed
8. Actual Average Speed
9. End Temp
10. Warm tire pressure
11. Economy
12. Wind Speed
13. Traffic Density – (Low, Med, High, Very High)
14. End Time
15. Duration

My Cobalt has a fairly nice dashboard computer that provides avg speed, avg mpg, ambient temp, and tire pressures. This makes it very nice to track these values.

Okay, I thought I would just throw some links up…Maybe that’s not the thing to do since a quick Google will give you these, but if you’re just too darn lazy here are some good sites / articles on commuting and hypermiling.

Okay, I know this is old, but I simply can’t imagine this kind of commute.
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/04/13/cisco_commute/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commuting

This seemed kind of interesting; maybe I’ll check it out to see if it’s legit.
http://www.36commutingsolutions.org/Commuter%20Incentive.htm

While I don’t advocate all of the extreme hypermiling, some of the common sense ideas really work.

http://www.hypermiling.com/

http://ecomodder.com/

As I said, I will be using a 2008 Cobalt XFE.

With some conservative hypermiling, I can get about 43-44 mpg on my commute (about 46 miles one way). My max MPG for this trip is 48.9 (according to the car’s calculation). My normal commute has an inbound time around 5 AM (to avoid most traffic).

As stated earlier I try to be a very courteous driver by following some basic tenants:

1) Treat others the way you would like to be treated.
2) Courteous driving encourages other drivers to be courteous.
3) Aggressive driving influences others to drive aggressively.

I have a few planned experiments, but will only comment on each one when it is underway and seems to have a reasonable chance of being a valid experiment.

I’ve created this spot on the internets to document some commuting experiments I would like to try and see where they take me.

My current current commute takes me from Big Lake to Eden Prairie, MN almost everyday of the week. I drive a 2008 Chevy Cobalt that has about 9000 miles on it. So far, I’ve tried to use the hypermiling techniques but I don’t go crazy. This may or may not be a part of the experiments I would like to attempt.

Don’t get me wrong, I do not plan on doing anything illegal or that would irritate my fellow drivers out there. I’m more focused on observing the dynamics between cars and the social interactions between drivers based on how they drive and perceive the world (road) around them.

For the record, I try to be an extremely courteous driver…I find that I arrive at my destination in a far better mood.