Hybrid Jungle

Shell will be holding their annual Eco-Marathon in Europe starting on May 22 2008. The picture to the left is the team that won in both 2006 and 2007 getting up to 7148 mpg! The cars competing must have three or four wheels, and use one of the following fuel sources: gasoline, diesel, bioethanol, natural gas, hydrogen, petroleum, or sunlight. To win you must travel the farthest distance on the least amount of fuel. The winning team will receive $10,000.

Many things go into achieving the incredible efficiency of these vehicles. These vehicles have an extremely low drag coefficient which is accomplished by making the vehicle aerodynamic, reducing the size of the vehicle, engine, and wheels. This is done since bigger vehicles will create more drag and in turn mpg will suffer. The vehicles are also designed to be as light as possible.

What is surprising to me is that Shell would sponsor such a contest as you would think if the day ever comes where production cars are getting 7000 mpg Shell would need to find a new business to get into. If I had a 15 gallon gas tank in my car I could travel 105,000 on a single tank. I never keep my cars past 100,000 miles so as long as the dealer gives me my new car with a full tank of gas, I would never see a gas station again!

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