One Gallon Challenge: alt-fuel "race" cars get up to 164 MPGe

Monday, August 24, 2009

One Gallon Challenge: alt-fuel "race" cars get up to 164 MPGe

Posted by SharK at 4:07 PM

Filed under: Green Culture, MPG, AutoblogGreen Exclusive

Dirigo - click for more images of the One Gallon Challenge

This weekend's One Gallon Challenge in Massachusetts resulted in some pretty amazing fuel economy results. The five vehicles that took part in the ~~race~~ challenge (any line of of cars that starts "in stately, fuel-conserving style" can't really be called a race, can it?) made the 100-mile drive into Boston and posted fuel efficiency results as follows:

MIT's all-electric Porsche - 164 MPGe (plug-to-wheels) or 75MPGe (well-to-wheels)
Moonbeam - 93 MPGe
Dirigo - 88 MPGe
Ricker Truck - 70 MPGe
Wood-burning truck - 27.7 MPGe

OGC organizer Jory Squibb said the vehicles helped show solutions for "our complex evolution to ultra-economy" and promised to hold the event again next year. Fun fact of the trip: the MIT Porsche recharged at a 220V outlet at a local Ford dealer.

Gallery: One Gallon Challenge