Gas Mileage Woes? Not for These Vehicles!

Gas Mileage Woes? Not for These Vehicles!

WARRENDALE, Pa., June 1, 2006 - With the cost of fuel still rising, collegiate teams in SAE's Supermileage engineering competition could be the envy of many drivers who are experiencing sticker shock at the pumps.

Their hand-built competition vehicles can get 1,000, 1,500, even up to 2,000 miles per gallon (mpg). The vehicles will be featured in the event that will be held June 8-9 at the Eaton Corporation Proving Grounds in Marshall, Mich.

Begun as a way to generate public awareness in the area of fuel economy in 1980, the Supermileage competition offers a simple yet challenging goal: to build a one-person, fuel-efficient vehicle based around as small, four-cycle engine. (Engines are donated by Briggs & Stratton) Competitors don't race against the clock or to a checkered flag; the highest miles per gallon wins the event.

There are 29 collegiate teams entered in this year's competition. Defending champion for Supermileage is the University of British Columbia at 1,608 mpg. Supermileage is the only SAE competition that includes high school teams. 12 teams have entered this year and the defending champion is Mater Dei High School from Evansville, Ind., at 1,836 mpg.

Event schedule:

Thursday, June 9
1:00 p.m. - Track opens for practice for vehicles - Only Technical Inspection Approved Vehicles may practice
4:00 p.m. - Track closes for practice

Friday, June 10
9:00 a.m. - Vehicle runs begin on track
10:00 a.m. - Technical Inspection opens in Truck Garage
4:30 p.m. - Technical Inspection closes
5:00 p.m. - Last vehicle run begins

Supermileage is part of SAE's Collegiate Design Series, a series of student engineering competitions that include Mini Baja, Formula SAE, Aero Design and Clean Snowmobile Challenge. For additional information or to register as media, please e-mail pr@sae.org



Source: SAE International‹ previous  •  6310 of 12660  •  next ›