College Team Tops 3,000 mpg at Supermilage Event

A student team from Pennsylvania State University's Behrend College achieved a winning run of 3,014 mpg in a one-seat motorized vehicle at SAE International's Supermileage competition.

This year’s competitors included 21 teams from the U.S., eight from Canada and one each from Lebanon, Qatar and United Arab Emirates. The Universite Laval in Quebec City, Canada, which won the previous four competitions, set a record of 4,113 mpg last year.

The teams design and build their own vehicles, which are powered by a 1-cylinder 4-cycle engine. Participants are encouraged to use advanced materials and technologies to optimize the fuel efficiency of their vehicles, which is measured over six laps around Eaton’s 1.6-mile test track.

The competition, which is part of SAE’s Collegiate Design Series, is designed to generate public awareness of high-mileage, fuel-efficient vehicles and encourage students to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and math.