Hypermilers have hit the streets of Northern Virginia...

And as Jessica Forres reports... these fuel concious motorists are
testing how far they can go on a single tank of gas.



Tom Rolewicz... driving a Fusion Hybrid... turns onto the George
Washington Parkway and switches off the air conditioning. It's a
technique motorists can use to save fuel.

IN TRAFFIC IT CAN KNOCK YOUR FUEL ECONOMY DOWN BY TWENTY, TWENTY FIVE PERCENT.

Rolewicz works for Ford Motor Company. He's one of six eco-drivers
taking part in the Ford Fusion Hybrid 1-thousand Mile Challenge. Jay
Ward is a spokesperson for the company. He says they chose Washington
for the weather, terrain...and politics.

WITH EVERYTHING THAT'S GOING ON IN THE AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY RIGHT NOW.
CLEARLY PART OF WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO SAY HERE IS THAT WE'RE DOING OUR
BIT AND WE'RE WORKING AS FAST AS WE CAN TO BRIGN EXCITING NEW CARS TO
THE MARKET.

The challenge, Ward says, will end when the car runs out of gas.

Jessica Forres WAMU 885 News