HONDA CIVIC Expedition Eco Drive Challenge 2012 Halfway at Nordkapp: Lithuanian Ambitions Proved, Intrigue Develops!
On Monday, 7 May, seven Honda Civiс 1.8 Elegance AT cars, going on the route Vilnius – Nordkapp – Vilnius, reached the northernmost European spot, Nordkapp settlement in Norway. Obviously, Lithuanian ambitions of proving they can surpass Estonians and Latvians in economy driving are well-grounded: after three days of the trip, the average fuel consumption of all crews beat the best result of our neighbours: 4.73 l/100 km. But the greatest intrigue of who’s actually winning the expedition, only develops.
Despite the fact that most crew representatives haven’t been practicing ecodriving, one must admit they did their homework before the trip and now successfully apply the knowledge. However, the members of the expedition are probably unsure of their potential as they constantly try new driving tactics, which in some cases prove efficient, and to others they only impair the results.
For instance, after the first two days, a sure leader was a crew named “Žoliapjovės ilgesys” (Lawntrimmer Longing) – Andrius Kriščiūnas and Rytis Markevičius. Their average fuel consumption of both days was as small as 4.358 l/ 100 km. The female crew – Gentrūna Gabartienė and Neringa Joneikytė – demonstrated great results, too: afetr two days, they were second on the result sheet.
Nonetheless, everything turned upside down when the results of the third day were estimated: “Saint Liter” crew (Albinas Aleksiejūnas and Nerijus Kiseliovas) jumped from the seventh position straight to the first, having miraculously discovered the formula of the best route and driving technique. In three days, they managed to reduce the fuel consumption of their Honda from 4.78 to 4.22 l/ 100 km.
In the meantime, the mentioned female crew chose a wrong route and added over 100 km more than the leaders of the third stage, and consequently dropped to the seventh position.
Therefore, the winner of the expedition is still a mystery. The further they go, the more significance lies in each kilometre, in every 100 g of fuel, in the relations between the crew members and in fatigue management…
Another thrilling detail is that all Lithuanian crews drive much more dynamically than the Estonians or the Latvians. The average speed of the latter was merely 50-55 km/h, while the Lithuanians drive way faster: the average speed of the majority is around 70-75 km/h.
The members of the expedition return to Vilnius on Sunday. We shall soon find out the upshot of this wole ecodriving intrigue.