◎胡立宗

As U.S. gasoline prices hit records on almost a daily basis, an increasing number of motorists are following a radical driving technique designed to eke out every last mile from a tank of fuel.

隨著美國油價幾乎每天都創新高，越來越多的開車族開始使用極端的駕駛技巧，充分榨出每一滴油的哩程數。

Known as ’hypermiling,’ the method can double gas mileage, even in gas-guzzling vehicles that would normally get less than 20 mpg.

被稱為「哩程破錶」的駕駛技術可讓哩程數倍增，就算是每加侖跑不到20英里的耗油怪獸也可能辦得到。

Promoted on a growing number of Web sites, hypermiling includes pumping up tires to the maximum rating on their sidewalls, which may be higher than levels recommended in car manuals; using engine oil of a low viscosity, and the controversial practice of drafting behind other vehicles on the highway to reduce aerodynamic drag -- a practice begun a few years ago by truck drivers.

越來越多網站推薦的「哩程破錶」技巧，包括將胎壓灌到胎壁規定的上限，雖然這可能會比汽車操作手冊上的建議值還高；另外就是改用黏度低的機油；以及具爭議性的「跟車」─利用卡車司機數年前率先採用的方式，在高速公路上緊貼其他車後面以減少空氣阻力。

The price of gasoline has rapidly emerged as the public’s biggest economic concern, as in a poll by the Kaiser Family Foundation, many describe gas prices a "serious problem," ahead of jobs, and healthcare.

油價已迅速成為民眾最擔憂的經濟問題，凱塞家庭基金會進行的民調，許多人將油價視為「嚴重問題」，比對工作跟醫療照護的擔憂度還高。

新聞辭典

hypermiling：名詞，指讓每公升（加侖）汽油能跑的哩程數更多的方法。這個字是由hyper-（上方、超過）跟miling組成；miling原形為mile，意思是英里。

eke out：片語，補貼、勉強地維持。本文的eke out every last mile，意思是讓一箱油達到更高的哩程數。

gas-guzzling：形容詞，耗油的。guzzle，動詞，暴飲暴食。

draft：動詞，用於駕駛時表示緊跟高速行駛車輛以降低風阻。

來源：自由時報

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