MOUNT PLEASANT – Seventeen Central Michigan University students hope to build the most fuel-efficient vehicle in the country topping last year?s record breaker, which recorded a whopping 1,819 miles per gallon.

The students, under the supervision of CMU engineering and technology faculty member Benjamin Ritter, will enter the 397A/SAE Supermileage class, part of the Society of Automotive Engineers International Competition at the Eaton Rapids Proving Ground scheduled for June 10-11 in Marshall.

The competition is an opportunity for students to work on a challenging project that allows practical experience in design and fabrication and raises public awareness of fuel economy. Competing teams must build a one-person, fuel-efficient vehicle based on a small four-cycle engine. The winning vehicle runs a specified course with the highest kilometers per liter rating.

An award will be given to the team with the top overall score, determined by the sum of the points earned on the design report added to the fuel mileage. Awards will be given for the teams achieving the top mileage numbers. All participants will receive a financial award proportional to vehicle mileage performance. An award will be given for the team with the highest design report score.

Last year, CMU came in 16th overall for college teams with a total calculated mileage of 347.59 miles per gallon. The winning mileage was 1,819.47 miles per gallon. The 2005 vehicle, which will be made of much lighter materials, will weigh about 60 pounds, said Ritter. Drivers must weigh at least 130 pounds.

The CMU students building the supermileage vehicle are:

Cody Allen of Fenton

Christopher Arble of Trenton

Nicholas Beaudoin of Commerce Township

Derek Blaskowski of Armada

Beau Brown of Saranac

Brian Carol of Oxford

Jonathan Dubs of Fillion

Steven Gervais of Sanilac

Nicholas Hieshetter of Menominee

Jeremy Kilbourn of Deford

Matthew Linegar of Berkley

Daniel Liphard of Midland

Jonathan Miller of Ann Arbor

Steven Miller of Waterford

John Parkes of Leroy

Matthew Perry of West Branch

Matthew Walton of Mount Morris

The CMU entry will be displayed at CMU’s Posters at the Capitol exhibition for legislators April 12 in Lansing and on April 20 at the student research exhibition on campus.