Oil prices are spiraling upwards like crazy and nothing seems can stop the climb upwards. Governments and people are trying to find ways to alleviate the problem. The US government is urging its people towards economizing the use of gasoline. The government has set gas mileage standards and vehicles as per requirements have to reach those standards.

California proposed stricter norms. It urged to reduce vehicle tailpipe emissions, as this would take care of greenhouse emissions and fuel efficiency. But this was thwarted by Bush government stating that raising mileage will do it all and the need of the hour is fuel efficiency, reduced demand of oil and therefore lesser dependence on imported oil.

There are also efforts at finding an alternative. Ethanol, a biofuel is already in the market. But there are mixed responses with regard to it. Hybrid cars, electric-gas, or fuel efficient cars are already there in the market but rising oil is still a concern. After September 11 many citizens started looking for fuel-efficient cars and ways to reduce expenditure on fuel by increasing mileage through their Hypermiling.

The citizens are making all possible efforts to curtail gas guzzling in order to save every dollar they can. Hypermiling is one such method where the mileage is increased by consuming less gas. Though this is beyond the rules set by the EPA, citizens are consuming less fuel and therefore saving lot of money.

Hypermiling includes the following methods:

1. Pumping up tires to the maximum rating on their sidewalls and may be higher than levels recommended in car manuals
2. Using engine oil of low viscosity
3. Keeping speed down
4. Accelerating gently
5. Avoiding excessive idling
6. Controversial practice of drafting behind other vehicles on the highway to reduce aerodynamic drag.