Making your car shaped like a sperm will decrease its drag coefficient.

I know what you’re thinking—this whole green movement from the past few years is reminiscent of past fuel crises when you went out and bought yourself a little Honda Civic or Geo Metro to do your part for the environment. Now politicians and the media are telling you to trade in that heap of rust for a new hybrid. You already own a light-weight low-powered car, so why should you swap your old rusty one out for a new one? After all, paying for another $20,000 car is going to take you several years in the pollution factory where you work.

Darin Cosgrove, founder of Ecomodder.com has the answer for you. Simply take your current economy car and make it aerodynamic. DIY-ers can find lots of helpful information on modifying their vehicles for better mileage. The result of some aluminum, cardboard, duct tape, and elbow grease could increase your fuel efficiency by 15%. The greatest potential for improving the aerodynamics of most cars is at the rear.

Another hypermiler over at Aerocivic.com built a 95 mpg ’92 Honda Civic. He says the car is so aerodynamic it glides along with hardly any throttle. He also suggests the aerodynamic top speed of the car has risen from 95mph to 140mph. This Civic even has an elongated rear window and legal tail lights. Makes me wonder why Honda never released it this way.

Aero Civic