Ok Tested it Heres how:
1. Got my Zuum up to an adventure lvl with highspeed ride
2 I traveled a zone not using hi speed ride taking note of how much energy i had to when i got into the zone and how much energy i ended with AFTER i went to the next area(started with 2681 energy ended with 2665 energy which means i used 16 energy in the trip) The zone i traveled was a simple right turn I went for the shortest possible route without hitting against the wall.Didn't see any monsters.
3 I traveled the same exact zone this time with hi speed ride again taking note of how much energy i had when i got into the zone and how much i had after i went to next area (started with 2652 ended with 2615 which means i used 37 in the trip)Again i used the same zone and didn't see any monsters, i took the shortest possible route without seeing any monsters

So Without Hi-Speed Ride i used up 16 energy
With Hi-Speed Ride i used up 37 energy

Clearly Using Hi-Speed Ride takes up more energy
Btw I did all this in Kawrea Volcano.. Any questions???