How Does Speed Traveling in Car Affect MPG?
Auto Efficiency The gas mileage you get from your car depends on how fast you’re driving. Gas efficiency increases as your speed increases up to your car’s optimal speed. This is because there are functions that require energy no matter how fast you drive. Most cars achieve maximal fuel efficiency when driven between 55 and 60 miles per hour; this is the speed at which the car is traveling when the company records its maximum miles per gallon rating. Efficiency decreases at higher speeds because of the increase in energy required to overcome wind resistance, which increases exponentially–meaning the wind resistance is significantly greater when you’re driving 75 miles per hour than at 55 mph. The national speed limit was set to 55 mph n the 1970s. For every five miles per hour you drive over the optimal speed, gas mileage decreases by about seven percent. Effects of Idling When the car is running but the car is stopped, it’s called idling. The larger your car’s engine, the more gas yo
