Penn State Triumphs At SAE's Supermileage Competition In Marshall

MARSHALL -- Four college teams topped 1,000 miles per gallon in specially designed vehicles they built during the SAE "Supermileage" event June 6-7 at Eaton's Proving Grounds in Marshall.

This is the 34th year for the competition, which challenges teams to build a one-person, fuel efficient vehicle based around a one-cylinder, four-cycle engine.

A team from Pennsylvania State University's Behrend College was this year's overall winner. It received a total score of 1,656 (1,290 mpg plus its Design Report score of 366) and won $1,400.

Brigham Young University finished second with a score of 1,592, which included the best overall fuel economy run of 1,331 mpg, followed by Northern Illinois University's tally of 1,423 (1,173 mpg plus 250 design). The schools received $1,100 and $900, respectively.

Rounding out the top five were teams from, the University of Massachusetts-Amherst with 1,283 (1,010 mpg plus 273 design) and École de Technologie Supérieure in Quebec, Canada, with 1,225 mpg (935 mpg plus 290 design).  

A team from the Milwaukee School of Engineering won the Design Report portion of the competition with a score of 385. The team's vehicle completed the technical iInspection process but didn't achieve a qualifying fuel economy run.

Central Connecticut State University's team won the best Newcomer Award and was voted to have the Most Visually Appealing Vehicle. The University of Nevada-Reno was selected by the event organizing committee to have the Best Demonstrated Overall Team Attitude.

Michigan teams in the competition were Michigan Technological University, sixth place, 758 mpg and a Design Score of 350 for a total of 1,107, and Calvin College, 15th place, 348 mpg plus a Design Score of 73 for a total of 421.

Some 28 teams from across the U.S. and Canada entered this year's event, and 19 completed the technical inspection process.

Hosted by Eaton since its inception in 1980, Supermileage is designed to generate public awareness of high-mileage fuel economy and to promote automotive engineering as a career choice for students.  Participants are encouraged to use advanced materials and technologies, as well as their design creativity and imaginations, to get the most out of their vehicles.

SAE is a global association with more than 128,000 member engineers and related technical experts in the aerospace, automotive and commercial vehicle industries. Eaton's partnership with SAE International in Supermileage stems from the company's broad portfolio of technologies designed to improve the efficiency of specific systems and an vehicle's overall fuel economy. Eaton also has a strong commitment of encouraging students to pursue careers in automotive engineering. 

Eaton is a diversified power management company providing energy-efficient solutions that help our customers effectively manage electrical, hydraulic and mechanical power. With 2012 sales of $16.3 billion, Eaton is a global technology leader in electrical products, systems and services for power quality, distribution and control, power transmission, lighting and wiring products; hydraulics components, systems and services for industrial and mobile equipment; aerospace fuel, hydraulics and pneumatic systems for commercial and military use; and truck and automotive drivetrain and powertrain systems for performance, fuel economy and safety. Eaton has approximately 103,000 employees and sells products to customers in more than 175 countries. For more information, visit www.eaton.com.