Gas Mileage Woes? Not for the Vehicles in SAE International's Supermileage Competition!

WARRENDALE, Pa., June 5, 2012 - With the cost of fuel still rising, collegiate teams in SAE International’s Supermileage® engineering competition could be the envy of many drivers who are experiencing sticker shock at the pumps. 

Their hand-built competition vehicles can get 1,000, 2,000, even up to 3,000 miles per gallon (mpg). The vehicles will be featured in the event that will be held June 7-8 at the Eaton Corporation Proving Grounds in Marshall, Mich.

Hosted by Eaton Corporation since its inception more than 30 years ago as a way to generate public awareness in the area of fuel economy, the Supermileage® competition offers a simple yet challenging goal: to build a one-person, fuel-efficient vehicle based around a one-cylinder, four-cycle engine. (Engines are donated by Briggs & Stratton). In this competition, the highest mpg average over a 9.6 mile course wins the event.

There are nearly 30 collegiate teams entered in this year's competition. Teams represent schools from Canada, Mexico, Pakistan and the United States.

Event Schedule:

Thursday, June 7
10 a.m. – Technical inspection opens in truck garage

1 p.m. – Track opens for practice for vehicles approved through technical inspection only

4 p.m. – Track closes for practice

4:30 p.m. – Technical inspection closes

Friday, June 8

9 a.m. – Vehicle runs begin on track

5 p.m. – Last vehicle run begins

Press credentials can be obtained by emailing pr@sae.org.

Supermileage® is part of SAE International’s Collegiate Design Series™. Other competitions in the series include 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 prestigious 2008 Public Service Award.

Eaton’s partnership with SAE International in Supermileage® stems from its expansive portfolio of automotive products that deliver enhanced fuel economy ratings by improving overall and specific system efficiencies.  The company also has a strong commitment to encouraging young engineers to pursue careers in the automotive industry.

SAE International is a global association of more than 133,000 engineers and related technical experts in the aerospace, automotive and commercial-vehicle industries. SAE International's core competencies are life-long learning and voluntary consensus standards development. SAE International's charitable arm is the SAE Foundation, which supports many programs, including A World In Motion® and the Collegiate Design Series™.

- www.sae.org -