MSOE students build super-mileage vehicle



MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- It doesn't quite look like something you'd see out on the road.

But students at the Milwaukee School of Engineering are hard at work building futuristic, super-mileage vehicles to compete in the Shell Eco-marathon Americas.

"It has been probably my favorite thing that I`ve done at MSOE because you don`t get real world experience like this in class," said MSOE student Evan Schilling.

This is a competition among future scientists and engineers in North and South America to build a vehicle that travels the furthest distance using the least amount of energy.

MSOE students began working at the beginning of the school year on both a gas and electric vehicle, with the goal of achieving 1,000 miles per gallon!

"It takes up a lot of our time especially during the weekends but I wouldn`t rather be doing anything else," said MSOE student Greg Kucab.

Along with using green technology, the cars are built as single seaters, with three wheels, and the body is in the shape of a tear drop.

"By doing so we make the car as aerodynamic as possible, they`re very low, very narrow, and just kind of cut through the air so we minimize drag and get the highest fuel efficiency," said Kucab.

There is also a lot of technique that will go into driving the car, which will be Lauren Goulet's responsibility as she's the only one that fits in it.

"I think it will be fun once we actually see the track. I think I`ll feel a lot better about it," said Goulet.

As these students are our future, it's only a matter of time until we see higher fuel efficiency cars out on the road.

Shell Eco-marathon Americas will take place April 25th - 27th in Houston, Texas.

The most recent winner achieved more than 3,500 miles per gallon!