College Team Tops 2,000 mpg at Supermileage Event

A team from the Universit Laval in Quebec, Canada, achieved 2,098 miles per gallon with its student-designed and built vehicle to take first place and a $1,500 prize at SAE International's annual Supermileage competition. The car was followed by entries from Brigham Young University (1,244 mpg) and Northern Illinois University (1,057 mpg).

Entrants are one-seat vehicles powered by a one-cylinder four-cycle engine. Participants are encouraged to use advanced materials and technologies to get the most out of their vehicles over the 9.6-mile course at Eaton Corp.'s proving grounds in Marshall, Mich.

The competition, now in its 36th year, is designed to generate public awareness of high-mileage fuel economy and encourage students to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and math. A total of 23 collegiate teams (17 from the U.S. and six from Canada) competed this year, with most achieving at least 200 mpg.