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Halfway across the country on a single tank of gas

It still a bit of a dream for most of us, but a valid goal nonetheless. With rising gas prices back in the headlines this summer, it's likely the collegiate teams in SAE International's Supermileage competition will be the envy of drivers across the nation. It’s the simple result of vehicles that can achieve fuel efficiency over 2,000 miles per gallon.
Posted: June 9, 2011 - 3:59PM
Author: Don Bain

They will be featured in an event held June today and tomorrow, June 9-10, at the Eaton Corporation Marshall Proving Grounds in Marshall, MI. The Supermileage competition has been hosted by the Eaton Corporation for nearly 30 years, as a way to generate public awareness and innovation into fuel economy.

With a single, simple goal teams endeavor to build one-person, fuel-efficient vehicles around a small, four-cycle engine donated by Briggs & Stratton. The highest average mpg over a 9.6-mile course wins the event. More than 30 collegiate teams are entered in this year's competition. Defending champion is Universite' Laval, Quebec, Canada, with a fuel economy of 2,340 mpg and a total score of 2,620.

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The Supermileage event is part of SAE International's Collegiate Design Series. They also produce competitions including the Baja SAE, Clean Snowmobile Challenge, Formula SAE and Aero Design. SAE International's Collegiate Design Series and A World In Motion curriculum won the National Science Foundation's 2008 Public Service Award.

Eaton's gets publicity for its extensive portfolio of automotive products intended to enhance fuel economy by improving overall system efficiencies. The company is also interested in encouraging young engineers to pursue careers in the automotive industry.

SAE International is a global association of more than 128,000 engineers and related technical experts in the aerospace, automotive and commercial-vehicle industries. SAE International's charity is the SAE Foundation, which supports many programs, including A World In Motion and the Collegiate Design Series.

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