Fuel Economy Flex
With electrification ramping up, several automakers have expanded not only their battery-electric vehicle lineups, but also their hybrid offerings, many of which deliver significantly better fuel economy than their gasoline-only counterparts. The Toyota Prius remains the benchmark in the non-plug-in hybrid segment with up to 57 mpg, with popular models such as the Honda Civic Hybrid and Toyota Corolla Hybrid not far behind.
But over at Brigham Young University in Utah, a team of 20 students has built a vehicle that beats anything on the market right now in terms of fuel efficiency, at least in a controlled competition setting. KSL-TV reported that the vehicle is capable of delivering 2,145 mpg, enough to take first place in the Shell Eco-marathon competition last month. However, it is not quite as straightforward as it sounds.
Built Like A Science Project
The “Supermileage” vehicle is stripped of several features, including air conditioning. That weight-cutting measure, along with the use of a carbon-fiber body, helps improve fuel efficiency, as heavier vehicles force powertrains to work harder and consume more fuel. The vehicle weighs just 108 pounds overall, roughly the same as a full set of four alloy wheels.
Other trade-offs include a top speed of just 23 mph and driver limitations, including a maximum height of 5-foot-4 and a weight limit of 120 pounds.
The run was conducted at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, home of famed races such as the Indy 500. The vehicle was fitted with a fuel tank consisting of a 30-milliliter ethanol container, though the report noted that, at its achieved efficiency, it could theoretically travel from Provo, Utah, to New York City on just one gallon of fuel.
Real-World Limits Kick In
Despite the staggering mpg figure, the vehicle is nowhere close to being a practical solution, particularly for buyers looking for a daily driver. Still, it shows how far fuel-efficiency technology can be pushed, especially now that electrification and the industry’s effort to reduce fuel consumption are more important than ever.
Poor fuel efficiency can leave automakers exposed to penalties, although a recent EPA proposal seeks to delay stricter emissions standards for light- and medium-duty vehicles by two years, giving combustion-powered vehicles more time before tougher rules take effect. At the moment, plug-in hybrids such as the Toyota RAV4 PHEV offer some of the best efficiency ratings on the market, with figures above 100 MPGe, but their added complexity can also raise reliability concerns.
