What really makes this interesting is they did not do this on a dynometer, but actually put it on a test track.
That's only about 27 mpg for a 3200 lb car. What's the big deal here?
Is this a wide bodied bicycle? Where do I sit???
"eight feet long...main structure...rests approximately a half inch above the pavement.
You got anything that will work on Tennessee Roads? Where do you drive this thing, a skating rink?
> ... powered by a highly modified single cylinder
> 3.5 horsepower Briggs & Stratton engine.
All the contestants had to use this same engine, so this was
no ground-breaking bleeding-edge MPG competition. This was
sponsored by the SAE, after all.
Anyone expecting to read about a diesel-electric hybrid
with regenerative braking and solar assist, fueled by
composted lawn clippings, needs to seek elsewhere.
This is great learning and practice experience for budding engineers, I think. They don't get mired into this as they advance year to year. About 14 years ago my friend was on a hybrid engineering team in his senior year.
I'll reserve judgement until after they complete the "off-road" and "quarter mile dragster" segments of the competition.
Fred Flintstone did much better......(grin)
Yaba, Daba, Doooooooo!
That gas-guzzling POS is almost as bad as an SUV and should be banned. </sarcasm>