U.S. students create a vehicle that travels 911 km using only 1 liter of fuel.

Written by Andriely Medeiros de Araújo

Published on 21/05/2026 at 10:00

Updated on 21/05/2026 at 10:01

49 people reacted to this.

Weighing only 49 kg, students from the USA developed an ultralight prototype that achieved 911 km/L in an energy efficiency competition.

A group of students from Brigham Young University, in the United States, developed an experimental vehicle that managed to achieve 911 kilometers per liter of fuel during the Shell Eco-marathon, an international competition focused on energy efficiency.

The project attracted attention for showing that combustion engines can still achieve extremely low consumption when combined with lightweight structures and optimized aerodynamics.

Named Supermileage, the prototype was designed exclusively to save fuel. The model has an unusual appearance, mixing features of a tricycle and a compact car, and was created to transport only one person.

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Ultralight structure was decisive for performance

The low weight was one of the most important factors for the result achieved by the students.

Built with carbon fiber, the vehicle weighs only 49 kilograms. Additionally, its cabin is extremely compact and only accommodates drivers up to 1.63 meters tall and a maximum weight of 54 kilograms.

Weighing only 49 kg, students from the USA developed an ultralight prototype that achieved 911 km/L in an energy efficiency competition. Source: Nate Edwards/BYU.

Students eliminated traditional tank to reduce weight

To achieve such high economy numbers, the university students also simplified the refueling system.

Instead of using a conventional tank, the prototype operates with a small container holding only 30 milliliters of ethanol directly connected to the engine.

The solution was adopted during tests conducted at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the circuit where the Shell Eco-marathon took place.

The course used in the competition was 16 kilometers long.

Reduced speed helps students increase autonomy

Despite the impressive efficiency, the Supermileage has important limitations.

The maximum speed of the vehicle reaches only 37 km/h, far below the performance of conventional cars.

Furthermore, the performance can vary depending on weather conditions. Even light side or headwinds can reduce the prototype’s range.

Students bet on simple solutions to save fuel

Although many manufacturers are focusing investments on electric vehicles, the university project showed that combustion engines can still become more efficient.

With only 49 kg, US students developed an ultra-light prototype that achieved 911 km/L in an energy efficiency competition. Source: Nate Edwards/BYU.

In the case of the Supermileage, the students focused on basic engineering concepts applied in an extreme way.

The main factors used in the project were:

Reduced weight

Compact structure

Lower air resistance

Mechanical simplification

Maximum energy utilization

These elements helped the prototype achieve consumption far below that recorded by conventional automobiles.

University project serves as a laboratory for new ideas

Even without the possibility of immediate commercial use, the vehicle created by the students demonstrates how academic projects can contribute to the development of new mobility solutions.

Competitions like the Shell Eco-marathon serve as a space to test technologies related to energy efficiency, lightweight materials, and consumption reduction.

The result achieved by the students reinforces that a vehicle’s efficiency depends on several factors beyond the type of engine used.

Weight, aerodynamics, and waste reduction continue to be fundamental elements to decrease fuel consumption.

Although commercial cars need to meet safety, comfort, and interior space requirements, experiences like Supermileage help demonstrate how far automotive engineering can go when the absolute priority is saving energy.

With information from Xataka

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U.S. students create a vehicle that travels 911 km using only 1 liter of fuel.

Weighing only 49 kg, students from the USA developed an ultralight prototype that achieved 911 km/L in an energy efficiency competition.

Ultralight structure was decisive for performance

Students eliminated traditional tank to reduce weight

Reduced speed helps students increase autonomy

Students bet on simple solutions to save fuel

University project serves as a laboratory for new ideas

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U.S. students create a vehicle that travels 911 km using only 1 liter of fuel.

Weighing only 49 kg, students from the USA developed an ultralight prototype that achieved 911 km/L in an energy efficiency competition.

Ultralight structure was decisive for performance

Students eliminated traditional tank to reduce weight

Reduced speed helps students increase autonomy

Students bet on simple solutions to save fuel

University project serves as a laboratory for new ideas

Mother and daughter build a 70 m² house with more than 8,000 discarded glass bottles and impress with their creativity; known as the Casa de Sal, the property is located on Itamaracá Island, in Pernambuco.

Workers were opening a new road connection near the Marginal Tietê when they found, in the underground of the construction site, remnants of locomotives, wagons, and boilers from the 19th century linked to the forgotten history of Lapa.

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China transforms desert-devastated area into the world’s largest artificial forest, planting trees for 60 years, blocking sand that reached Beijing, and creating a “green lung” of 92,000 hectares in a region once considered lost.

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China has deployed snake-shaped robots to slide along power lines, where they have already inspected over 130 kilometers of cables using cameras and sensors to detect damaged wires, worn-out parts, and overheating.

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