At a time when most of the world is focusing on electric vehicles, a team of Utah University students has built an extremely efficient fossil fuel vehicle capable of covering hundreds of miles on a single gallon of ethanol, thanks to its ultralight, compact, and aerodynamic design. Aptly named Supermileage, the innovative vehicle weighs only 108 pounds — compared to the 3,800 pounds the average car weighs — thanks to a lightweight carbon fiber body. Unfortunately, it has a ridiculously tiny fuel tank. Barely larger than a test tube, the fuel tank can only hold enough fuel for about 20 miles before it has to be refilled. Considering Supermileage was only created for race track testing and competitions, the high refill rate was never a big concern. To achieve the incredible 2,145-mile/gallon range, the team eliminated all of the modern features of conventional cars, stripping everything to the bone and even limiting the size and weight of the driver. To be able to fit inside the only driver’s seat available in Supermileage, a person must be no taller than 5' and can only weigh up to 119 pounds. The developers calculated that it would take just one gallon of fuel to drive from Utah to New York. That’s impressive, but you should know that it would be a long, painful trip. Supermileage has a top speed of just 23 mph, not to mention that you would have to stop and somehow refill the tiny gas tank every 20 miles or so. It’s important to note that Supermileage wasn't designed as a production car. It’s just an experimental vehicle that proves that fossil-fuel vehicles can be quite efficient in extreme circumstances.
