high school students, 8923 mpg on gasoline, not even their best

[diosol]

Originally Posted by Old Mechanic

Lets hope more and more of the younger people on this planet see these accomplishments and demand better efficiency from our vehicles.

Sure its a very uncompromising design operated under very specific parameters, but when you look at the fact that this is 1000 times better mileage than some vehicles people drive on the road every day, you will understand that some of the vehicle designs people regularly pour 60 plus gallons of gas in every week should be considered a criminal activity, unless it's a business that absolutely must have that type of capability.

regards
Mech

Well these extreme designs are quite expensive. Estimated cost of building our vehicle without sponsors are about 15 000 USD. That's understandable because this is our free time hobby and there isn't any school funding or any professors involved. The conclusion is that we are the best team that includes only students or doesn't have national funding. In some schools there are courses of building these vehicles and some have national funding. Can't say for sure but 100 000 - 200 000+ USD annual budgets aren't so uncommon.

Starting this hobby isn't so difficult or expensive than it might seem. For example:
1. Get aluminium ladders. Make from old kart frame front steering and mod from 3-geared bicycle back hub with sprocket for rear wheel.
2. Some standard engine with some lubrication and compression modifications suits well
3. centrifugal clutch from chainsaw with the thinnest chain and sprockets.
4. shell can be made of plywood, glass fiber of plastic.
Easily over 1000-2000 mpg with very low budget.

Here is quote of 2,757.1 MPG at 2009 Shell Eco-marathon Americas - United States

Prototype
Grand Prize – Combustion Engine
With mileage of 2,757.1 mpg (1,172.2 kilometers per liter) the Alerion Supermileage team from Laval University in Quebec, Canada won a US$5,000 grand prize with their vehicle, NTF 3.0.

Ecodurance ry
I don't think that that vehicle cost more than 1000 USD and still they got 4700 MPG.