Students' car gets over 1,000 mpg

Students from Mater Dei High School in Evansville won today's Super Mileage Challenge at O'Reilly Raceway Park with a car that got 1,365 miles per gallon.

[Whatever]

It's more like "the kind of innovators who are so important to Indiana's economic future but can't wait to get the hell out of the state especially the educated ones!"

[Bill]

I think the cars on the super mileage contest for high school students is a great program wish more schools were in the contest.

[Crunch]

I tried to email Ford to tell them what I wanted: electric only - meaning no hybrid - 0-60 in less than 12 seconds, top speed of 85, 250 mile range, 4 seats, 30 grand. Tesla motors is making a FAST 2 seater for 100 grand, and is sold out thru 4q 2008. Soon, the rich will be able to drive without sponsoring terrorism, but we have to wait until the big 3 go under and one of these kids starts his own company. I have a 1969 pontiac already, so I'm not interested in partial solutions or sponsoring a fat industry to die more slowly than it is already. Lets just get these kids a large government grant and get it done now, so we can move on - literally.

[USAF Veteran]

Crunch wrote:

I tried to email Ford to tell them what I wanted: electric only - meaning no hybrid - 0-60 in less than 12 seconds, top speed of 85, 250 mile range, 4 seats, 30 grand. Tesla motors is making a FAST 2 seater for 100 grand, and is sold out thru 4q 2008. Soon, the rich will be able to drive without sponsoring terrorism, but we have to wait until the big 3 go under and one of these kids starts his own company. I have a 1969 pontiac already, so I'm not interested in partial solutions or sponsoring a fat industry to die more slowly than it is already. Lets just get these kids a large government grant and get it done now, so we can move on - literally.

possible solution...

http://www.teslamotors.com/index.php...

this is only a 2 seater

the CEO of the corporation is working on a 5 passenger 4-door sedan to be marketed in 2009....

[Darwin Award Official]

Crunch wrote:

I tried to email Ford to tell them what I wanted: electric only - meaning no hybrid - 0-60 in less than 12 seconds, top speed of 85, 250 mile range, 4 seats, 30 grand. Tesla motors is making a FAST 2 seater for 100 grand, and is sold out thru 4q 2008. Soon, the rich will be able to drive without sponsoring terrorism, but we have to wait until the big 3 go under and one of these kids starts his own company. I have a 1969 pontiac already, so I'm not interested in partial solutions or sponsoring a fat industry to die more slowly than it is already. Lets just get these kids a large government grant and get it done now, so we can move on - literally.

did you know that Studebaker Motors built one back in 1902???

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Studebaker_Elect...

[Greg]

My comment is a question....
If they can get over 1300 mpg by going roughly 15 mph can't they engineer something to get a bit over 325 mpg at 60 mph ? if simply math of dividing by 4 is used that is what you get 1300 / 4 = 325 just like 15 mph x 4 = 60

[physics]

Greg wrote:

My comment is a question....
If they can get over 1300 mpg by going roughly 15 mph can't they engineer something to get a bit over 325 mpg at 60 mph ? if simply math of dividing by 4 is used that is what you get 1300 / 4 = 325 just like 15 mph x 4 = 60

Good question Greg, it would be nice if that formula would work, but you have to take into account wind resistance. If you think about drafting on the interstate, which can only be done with speeds above 70 MPH, you can follow the car in front of you and gain up to ten miles per gallon, the reason is wind shear, and the fact the car in front of you is creating a path for you. The experimental cars that were tested were very low to the ground, very aerodynamic, and tested on a day with very little wind. I would venture to guess that if there was a steady 20 mile and hour wind for the test, the miles per gallon would have dropped by a couple hundred miles per gallon. I know the technology is there to get 100 miles per gallon. Geo was able to get 55 miles per gallon out of the metro with a three cylinder engine at 55 miles per hour.

[Darwin Award Official]

Greg wrote:

My comment is a question....
If they can get over 1300 mpg by going roughly 15 mph can't they engineer something to get a bit over 325 mpg at 60 mph ? if simply math of dividing by 4 is used that is what you get 1300 / 4 = 325 just like 15 mph x 4 = 60

it's not that simple.... if we lived on the surface of the moon where there would be no wind resistance then that would be a reasonable question...

But because we live on the surface of a planet that has an oxygen/nitrogen atmosphere [that we need to breathe] we must take into account WIND RESISTANCE...

just look at the INDY 500 CARS and compare them to the family car your parents use to drive ....

the engineers must take into account WIND RESISTANCE

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wind_resistance

[John]

Greg wrote:

My comment is a question....
If they can get over 1300 mpg by going roughly 15 mph can't they engineer something to get a bit over 325 mpg at 60 mph ? if simply math of dividing by 4 is used that is what you get 1300 / 4 = 325 just like 15 mph x 4 = 60

That it why you are NOT a car engineer. Bad math. You forgot a couple of ?? well I guess that is why I am NOT a car engineer nor a mathematician.

[Bettay]

I say put all of these kids to work....immediately!!

Jolly Good Show...Congrats to Mater Dei High School students.

[AB Indy]

“These students may be the scientists, engineers and technicians of tomorrow – the kind of innovators who are so important to Indiana’s economic future.” These students should be teaching us a lesson about our economic future!

[Jon B]

too bad they're "cars" have a 2-3 gallon tank at most and carry one passenger and nothing more. even with no wind resistance, the sheer weight of adding 4 doors, 4 seats, a trunk, airbags, spaceframe, etc would negate any gas savings.

[whatever]

al gore would be so proud....

[Astonished]

Greg wrote:

My comment is a question....
If they can get over 1300 mpg by going roughly 15 mph can't they engineer something to get a bit over 325 mpg at 60 mph ? if simply math of dividing by 4 is used that is what you get 1300 / 4 = 325 just like 15 mph x 4 = 60

Hey there, Gomer Pyle. Nice to see you looking at the online paper from "the big city". With your cyphering skills, you'll be glad to know that they can get over 13,500 miles per gallon at 1 mph.......

[Astonished]

AB Indy wrote:

“These students may be the scientists, engineers and technicians of tomorrow – the kind of innovators who are so important to Indiana’s economic future.” These students should be teaching us a lesson about our economic future!

You are insane, and have tasted too much of Al Gore's purple Kool-Aid. These "innovators" --- and all ideas must start somewhere, I realize --- are pedaling bicycles mounted on lawnmower engines!!!! Look at the pictures, read what they did, and you'll see what really went on. It's not much better than riding one of those mini-scooters with 49cc engines and no power, speed, passenger capability, luggage capability or --- at this juncture -- practicality. Don't DARE call them anything more than well-meaning kids. They are not teachers of anything except pluck. When they develop something useful, then you may call them teachers. This type of contest has been going on for decades, and we're still no closer to a practical application.

[Mack A Roney]

Astonished wrote:

<quoted text>You are insane, and have tasted too much of Al Gore's purple Kool-Aid. These "innovators" --- and all ideas must start somewhere, I realize --- are pedaling bicycles mounted on lawnmower engines!!!! Look at the pictures, read what they did, and you'll see what really went on. It's not much better than riding one of those mini-scooters with 49cc engines and no power, speed, passenger capability, luggage capability or --- at this juncture -- practicality. Don't DARE call them anything more than well-meaning kids. They are not teachers of anything except pluck. When they develop something useful, then you may call them teachers. This type of contest has been going on for decades, and we're still no closer to a practical application.

There's that "Conservative" attitude that we have all come to despise.

I think we should encourage these young people.

[jjj]

excellent keep up the great work because we need these future leaders

[jjj]

Astonished wrote:

<quoted text>You are insane, and have tasted too much of Al Gore's purple Kool-Aid. These "innovators" --- and all ideas must start somewhere, I realize --- are pedaling bicycles mounted on lawnmower engines!!!! Look at the pictures, read what they did, and you'll see what really went on. It's not much better than riding one of those mini-scooters with 49cc engines and no power, speed, passenger capability, luggage capability or --- at this juncture -- practicality. Don't DARE call them anything more than well-meaning kids. They are not teachers of anything except pluck. When they develop something useful, then you may call them teachers. This type of contest has been going on for decades, and we're still no closer to a practical application.

yes so much easier to criticize than to offer a word of encouragement or congratulations for thier hard work. yes life has been going on for decades ( wow where have you been) and man has made many small advances. nothing of a man on the moon breakthrough but still an accoplishment none the less. kids need encouragement and leadership. yes we can call them teachers as we are all teachers given the chance. please remember that we can all teach each other a thing or two. so dont be a stick in the mud and give the kids credit where it is due. they taught each other and learned alot from one another.

[word]

if they could make a 1000mpg car that does 30 mph, I'd still buy it.

[GreenwoodGuy]

Now that the word is out the oil companies and government will see to it that we never hear about this car or technology again.