LA 2008: CSULA's Super Eagle II gets 853 mpg
Click above for high-res image gallery of CSULA's supermileage ride
Far from the major automakers' glitzy unveilings - which, granted, were less crazy than in past years - at the LA Auto Show, the CSULA Supermileage Vehicle sits like an alien's egg on some red carpet in the basement of the LA Convention Center. This sleek bubble is powered by a single-cylinder 2 hp engine and can reach a top speed of 63 miles per hour. The supermileage part? This thing gets an astounding 853 mpg and is of the same family - totally unpractical, hyper-efficient experiments - as the 2,843 mpg winner of the Shell Eco-Marathon. CSULA's engineering and technology students have done a fine job with these yellow wheels and see-through top. My favorite part is the water bottle bungee corded to the top (you can see it more clearly in this picture). Anyone know what that's for?
Gallery: LA 2008: CSULA Super Eagle II
UPDATE: changed all mistaken references from UCLA to CSULA.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
JR 4:38PM (11/24/2008)
Not to nit pick, but Cal State LA is not the same as UCLA. That would be like mixing up the University of Michigan and Michigan State, or Penn State and the University of Pennsylvania.
Cal State LA has had a history of participating in, and being very successful in, high efficiency vehicle competitions, beginning with GM Sunrayce USA in 1990. Its good to see that they continue to work on projects like these.
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Sebastian 5:24PM (11/24/2008)
JR - my mistake. I saw the UCLA on this sign
http://www.autobloggreen.com/photos/la-2008-ucla-supermileage-vehicle/1184003/
which was at the booth, and just assumed it applied to the car as well. I've fixed the post. Thanks.
Jim 9:02AM (11/25/2008)
That "water bottle" thing is the fuel tank. I know because I built a car that competed against them for Binghamton University for teh 2008 competition. Our car achieved 1321 mpg, while also being a little "bigger" in size.
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kenc29 7:48PM (11/24/2008)
Seeing that waterbottle made me think of the turbo popoff valve that used to sit behind the driver in a CART champcar, looked. Of course, I'm sure they have a different purpose!
I'm guessing the waterbottle was required, but why does it sit where it does? It sits in a little windshadow, but why does it need to be exposed to the outside? Perhaps, there's a feedtube on the inside, with a bite valve, letting the driver drive and drink at the same time. Also, the exterior placement would allow the bottle to be refilled, easily. Note, it's a small bottle.
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