She accelerates gently when the light turns green, and coasts down hills to save gas. On highways, she stays in the right lane and watches the big SUVs zoom past.

"When I see someone roar past me, I think, `They just used enough gas to last me a week,'" she said.

She is part of a small and extremely dedicated group of drivers around the country who call themselves "hypermilers." They almost exclusively drive hybrid vehicles, and their goal is simple: squeeze every mile they can out of each drop of gas.
—Chris Williams, "'Hypermiler' drivers try to squeeze every mile they can out of a gallon of gas," The Associated Press, May 29, 2007

But Gerdes isn't just slow. He's deliberate. And he's the best hypermiler in the world. Hypermiling? What's that, you ask? It's the art of getting the most mileage out of every drop of gas in your tank. Gerdes never uses air-conditioning. He takes alternative routes to avoid red lights. Stepping on the brakes just wastes gas in his estimation. And he's known to tailgate 18-wheelers and let them pull him along.
—Francesca Segre, "Getting more mileage is an art form," American Public Media, April 27, 2007

In April, he found a smooth stretch of Route 65 where he was able to hit 100 mpg.

After more than a year's practice, Kroushl proposed his idea in online forums and discussion groups for Prius owners.

The challenge caught the attention of Reece, Gerdes and Bassage, three of the highest-reaching hypermilers on the Web.
—Jacqueline Shoyeband Moustafa Ayad. "2 days, 1,400 miles, 110 mpg 1 tank," Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, August 8, 2005