The One Gallon Challenge

Six vehicles, 100 miles and one gallon of gas each. See the contestants in from this summer's oddest gas-sipping challenge, the One Gallon Challenge.

By TDG Community

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roopod, one gallon challenge roopod The Roopod, poster-child of the event (named for Roo Trimble and Susan Hanna), was not quite drivable at race time, but was on display both in Greenfield and in Boston. This ultra sleek and light, 14 HP diesel-powered wonder will be a car to be reckoned with next year.

The Wood-gas Powered Truck

wood gas powered truck, one gallon challenge wood gas powered truck The wood-gas powered truck from 21st Century Motor Works (Dave Nichols and Sharon Roy) breezed in at 27.7 mpg, showing the viability of using a local, carbon-sequestering fuel source: ordinary cord wood.

The Dirigo

dirigo, one gallon challenge Dirigo Dirigo, a sleek diesel 3-wheeler clocked in at 88 MPGe (Miles Per Gallon equivalent) with a running cost of 2.9 cents per mile, showed the importance of good aerodynamics. This car had not only driven the 100 mile segment without back-up, but also the 450 mile round-trip from Maine.

The Lithium Porsche

lithium porsche, one gallon challenge lithium porsche MIT's electric vehicle team (Tyler Liechty, Peter Lamb and Dan Lauber) drove their lithium Porche in at an amazing 164 MPGe (plug-to-wheels) and 75 MPGe (wells-to-wheels). Once our electricity grid becomes more earth-friendly, this technology may lead all others. Many spectators, used to lead-acid technology, were awed as these students drove their Porche, with 15 automotive-sized batteries, from Cambridge to Greenfield on a single charge, then charged up with 220 VAC at the Ford dealership, and merrily drove back home. Without a doubt, the miracle battery we all dreamed of decades ago has arrived.

Moonbeam

moonbeam, one gallon challenge moonbeam Dripping with sweat, Jory Squibb drove his gas-powered three-wheel Moonbeam across the line at 93 MPGe and 2.7 cents per mile cost. Built as a grocery-getter, it had never been driven far from Camden, Maine -- but it finished the race without incident, blasting its heater to keep the engine cool in the 90-degree heat.

The Ricker Truck

ricker truck, one gallon challenge ricker truck Ricker Truck (ala Harry Ricker), a 900cc diesel-powered vehicle completed only hours before the event, clocked in at 70 MPGe and showed the advantages of using laminated foam construction for safety and light weight.