by Students created a three-wheeled car with incredible fuel efficiency
While major automakers have focused on electric vehicles, a group of students from the USA has proven that internal combustion engines are still capable of miracles. Their project demonstrates what can be achieved by making a car lightweight, compact, and aerodynamic.
What is Supermileage
The car, named Supermileage, looks more like a hybrid of a tricycle and a regular car. It is made of lightweight carbon and has very compact dimensions. The cabin can only fit a person no taller than 162 cm and weighing up to 54 kg. The vehicle’s own weight is only 49 kg, which in itself is an impressive achievement.
How the tests went
As part of the Shell competition, the car was tested on the track at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. To reduce weight, the engineers abandoned a conventional fuel tank. Instead, the engine was powered by ethanol from a tiny container with a volume of only 30 milliliters.
The officially recorded figure is 2,145 miles per gallon. Theoretically, this car could travel from Provo, Utah, to New York City using only one gallon of fuel.
Limitations and prospects
However, such a trip would be very slow, as the car’s maximum speed is limited to 37 km/h. Furthermore, efficiency is strongly affected by weather conditions — even a slight headwind or crosswind can significantly reduce the range.
Why this matters now
At a time when many automakers are revising their plans for electric vehicles and turning back to hybrid technologies, this student project reminds us how far engine and body design can be pushed to improve efficiency. Perhaps large companies should pay attention to such developments, as they show that the potential of traditional engines is far from exhausted. The novice engineers have proven that by radically reducing weight and air resistance, it is possible to achieve figures that seem fantastic even for modern hybrids.
