Pictures: Cool Cars Designed by Students to Sip Fuel

Université Laval's NTF 5.0

Photograph by Harley Soltes, National Geographic

Université Laval of Québec City won the grand prize for prototype vehicles for the third consecutive year with its aerodynamic NTF 5.0, which achieved 2,565 mpg (1,090 km/l). The Canadian team, called Alerion Supermileage, aims to go on to compete May 28 in the Shell Eco-marathon Europe in Lausitz, Germany. The third contest in the series, the Eco-marathon Asia, will be held in July in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

(Related: "Breaking 2,500 mpg, Canadian Team Wins High-Efficiency Race")

Published April 29, 2011

University of Missouri's Tigergen 2

Photograph by Harley Soltes, National Geographic

The University of Missouri’s Tigergen 2, festooned with the tail of the team mascot of the Columbia, Missouri, school, won a $1,500 first prize as the only urban concept vehicle fueled by a hydrogen fuel cell in the Shell Eco-marathon Americas. Mizzou achieved nearly 14 miles (22 kilometers) per kilowatt-hour.  Because 33.7 kwh delivers the energy of 1 gallon of gasoline, the Tigergen 2's mileage was the equivalent of 472 mpg (204 km/l).

Published April 29, 2011

Rose-Hulman Institute's RHev74

Photograph by Harley Soltes, National Geographic

The Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology of Terre Haute, Indiana, achieved 1,205 mpg (512 km/l) with its car, the shell of which was made entirely of polycarbonate plastic.

Published April 29, 2011

Drexel University's Green Dragon

Photograph by Harley Soltes, National Geographic

Drexel University of Philadelphia won the $1,500 first prize for solar prototype vehicles, as the only one of five solar teams in the category to complete a valid run. Under the contest’s rules for solar cars, the vehicle can’t rely on battery power but must simultaneously generate as much energy from its solar panels as it is using to complete the six-mile track. The Green Dragon did so with a result of  90 miles (144 kilometers) per kilowatt-hour, the equivalent of 3,033 mpg (1,290 km/l).

(Related: "Drexel Students Take on the Solar Car Challenge" and photos: "Building the Perfect Solar Car")

Published April 29, 2011

Sullivan High's Tech Proto

Photograph by Harley Soltes, National Geographic

Sullivan High School of Sullivan, Indiana, turned in a result of 1,050 mpg (449 km/l) with its Tech Proto car.

Published April 29, 2011

Granite Falls High's Phillipe’s Bulldozer 2.0

Photograph by Harley Soltes, National Geographic

Washington State's Granite Falls High School won the $1,500 top prize for diesel-powered urban concept vehicles with Philippe's Bulldozer 2.0, which achieved 186 mpg (79 km/l).

Published April 29, 2011

Mater Dei High's George

Photograph by Harley Soltes, National Geographic

Mater Dei High School of Evansville, Indiana, grabbed second prize for urban concept vehicles with its gasoline-powered George, which turned in a run of 587 mpg (249 km/l).

Published April 29, 2011

Loyola Marymount's Ninja Kitty

Photograph by Harley Soltes, National Geographic

Loyola Marymount University of Los Angeles reached 558 mpg  (237 km/l) with its gasoline-powered Ninja Kitty.

Published April 29, 2011

Granite Falls High's Iron Maiden

Photograph by Harley Soltes, National Geographic

The ShopGirls of Washington State's Granite Falls High School, the first all-girls team in the competition, achieved mileage of 378-mpg (161-km/l) with this prototype, the Iron Maiden. The team also was honored with an award for safety in vehicle design, construction, and on-site behavior.

(Related: "All-Girls Team Seeks Record in High-Mileage Marathon" and "Pictures: High School 'ShopGirls' Design for the Prize")

Published April 29, 2011

Rose-Hulman Institute's RhEV74-XS

Photograph by Harley Soltes, National Geographic

Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology of Terre Haute, Indiana, came in third place among prototype vehicles, reaching 1,476 mpg (627 km/l) with its RhEV74-XS. Driver Allyson Nelson  is pictured taking a practice lap without the vehicle's protective plastic canopy in order to get a better view of the road.

Published April 29, 2011

University of British Columbia's Argo

Photograph by Harley Soltes, National Geographic

The Argo urban concept car, designed by students at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, reached mileage of 214 mpg (91 km/l).

Published April 29, 2011

Mater Dei High's Indy

Photograph by Harley Soltes, National Geographic

Mater Dei High School of Evansville, Indiana, won the $2,500 second prize among prototype vehicles with its gasoline-powered Indy, with fuel efficiency of 1,798.7 mpg (765 km/l).

Published April 29, 2011