Engineers have proven that it’s possible, at least technically, to drive from coast to coast on only a gallon of gasoline.
Granted, however, the vehicle they built goes about 10 to 25 miles an hour, can only fit one compact-sized person and more closely resembles a coffin on wheels than anything found on the streets. Designed by students at Cal Poly University in San Luis Obispo, the 3,000 mpg “Lamina” was conceived strictly as an entry into this year’s Shell Eco Marathon, a worldwide competition where participants attempt to build a vehicle with the highest possible fuel efficiency. Still, much of the techniques used to boost fuel efficiency can also be applied to everyday cars.
For instance, the designers that built the supermileage Lamina say that size and weight are the two most important factors for improving the gas mileage of any particular vehicle. Consisting of an ultra-lightweight carbon fiber frame and other spare parts such as low resistance tires with BMX bike rims, a modified Honda generator and a fuel tank the size of a soda can, the car altogether weighs a mere 100 pounds.
“It’s really just sizing an engine properly for your car, we don’t need all that extra horsepower that people love,” team member Gabriel Mountjoy told Fox News. “That is one way we can increase our efficiency and fuel economy and you don’t need to invent anything, just smaller engines for decently sized cars.”
smartplanet
