The “Supermileage” vehicle is stripped of several features, including air conditioning. That weight-cutting measure, along with the use of a carbon-fiber body, helps improve fuel efficiency, as heavier vehicles force powertrains to work harder and consume more fuel. The vehicle weighs just 108 pounds overall, roughly the same as a full set of four alloy wheels.
Other trade-offs include a top speed of just 23 mph and driver limitations, including a maximum height of 5-foot-4 and a weight limit of 120 pounds.
The run was conducted at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, home of famed races such as the
Indy 500. The vehicle was fitted with a fuel tank consisting of a 30-milliliter ethanol container, though the report noted that, at its achieved efficiency, it could theoretically travel from Provo, Utah, to New York City on just one gallon of fuel.