FuelClinic.com is one cool site. It’s dedicated to helping folks save: on high gas prices, on fuel consumed and on greenhouse gas emissions. Yes, knowing (and improving) your fuel economy has a greater ripple effect than first meets the eye. And while we all may know that eco-driving and smart driving tips are important, keeping track of the real-life numbers is often just another hassle in our busy lives. Enter FuelClinic.com—it does the work for you, so all you have to do is reap the benefits. We recently had the opportunity to learn more about Michael Bragg, the creator of FuelClinic.com:
What sparked your interest in tracking fuel economy, and creating a website for others to do the same?
Michael: "This idea started over 2 years ago, when my then-girlfriend (now wife) explained to me that she’s been tracking her fuel mileage in a little notebook. She asked me what my mpg was, and I didn’t know. She asked me how much I was spending on gas, and I didn’t know that either … Being a software engineer with terrible handwriting, instead of starting my own notebook, I sat down and created a simple fuel mileage calculator on a computer. When I added a few recent receipts I had saved I was astonished to learn I was spending well over $3000.00 a year in fuel … I had no idea."
"I asked around, and many of my friends were totally unaware of how much money they spend on fuel – and this was before the days of $3 and $4 per gallon gasoline. I thought that there was a general lack of awareness about fuel consumption, and imagined that other people would find my mileage calculator handy, so I decided to put it on the Internet. My wife uses the website now too, deciding not to keep the notebook."
How do you feel about hybrids (mild, full and plug-ins) as a method for extending fuel economy range?
Michael: "I'm excited about all of the new technology being developed and marketed to help contribute to an energy-crisis solution, especially the hybrid cars. If you read my Fuelishness! Blog you'll see I'm slightly fanatical about plug-in hybrids, and can't wait to have one of my own someday."
"I've enjoyed working on engines and motors all my life, including 'hybrids' like the 1942-era USS Orion, which was a diesel-electric submarine tender I worked on for a few years. She used several diesel-engine-driven DC generators to power several DC electric motors that turned the giant screws (propellers) that pushed the Orion through the sea. Now, there was no regenerative breaking and she got terrible fuel mileage, but she was certainly a hybrid. In fact, the submarines Orion tended back in the pre-nuclear days were even closer to a modern Toyota Prius in configuration, as they had large banks of batteries that were used to power their motors when submerged."
"So, I'm a big fan of the concept, and think we're on the right track. Weaning ourselves off of the fuel pump is critical for our future. While conservation is something we can do today, hybrid and plug-in electric technology is the next logical step in this progression away from the unbridled fuel consumption of the SUV era."
What is your main driving force in helping folks track their fuel economy?
Michael: "There are so many good reasons to reduce the amount of fuel we are consuming that I'm not focusing on any one of them in particular with FuelClinic. I think that most people believe there is very little 'downside' to conserving fuel right now. This is a beautiful instance where the environmentalists can agree with the national security hawks, who can agree with the alternative energy industrialists, and it all be understood by the 'average' American who is struggling to pay the mortgage."
"I know that the recent record high gas prices are really hurting people, and unfortunately there is little chance of these high prices dropping significantly at all. There are so many things wrong with our current energy situation that there is no possibility of a simple solution."
"It's going to take a comprehensive approach, and the first step, the easiest step, the one step we can all take together – literally right now – is to decide to reduce our own fuel consumption by modifying the way we drive our vehicles – and we can do that without much discomfort, any additional cost, or any real change to our standard of living."
Is there anything else you’d like people to know about FuelClinic.com?
Michael: "Most people already know how to conserve fuel – there are no secrets on how to do this. The 'new advice' is the 'same advice' we've been getting since the last big oil crisis of the late 1970's."
So why don't more people practice fuel efficient driving techniques?
Michael: "I think it's because they are lacking basic feedback to tell them if they are succeeding or not, to determine if the savings are worth the effort. FuelClinic helps provide this needed feedback to users, it illustrates consumption and mileage trends in various meaningful ways. Until we have immediate mileage feedback on the dashboard of every vehicle on the road, the FuelClinic method is the best option available to many drivers."
"In the near future I'll be adding new features to the site that will make it an even more powerful suite of tools for helping people conserve fuel. What exists on-line today is simply a glimpse into the future of FuelClinic, the building blocks of an application that may very well help change the world."
About Michael Bragg: “I'm a software engineer with a large contracting firm, but on my off hours I build FuelClinic.com with the hopes of helping others. I grew up in Baltimore, MD. I joined the Navy twice, once after graduating high school, and again after the attacks of 9/11. In between those dates I ran a small specialty contracting company, and since then have worked for several major corporations. At some point, I'm planning to turn FuelClinic into a viable business capable of supporting my family.”