When it comes to efficient transportation and MPG (or MPG equivalent), then human powered locomotion is pretty unbeatable. Bicycles top the charts with an astounding 984 MPGe, pedestrians tend to achieve an MPGe of 700, and runners move with an efficiency of 315 MPGe.
Unfortunately faster modes of transportation do not even come close to these levels; the most efficient vehicle on the market currently is the Mitsubishi i-MiEV which boasts a combined MPG of just 112. Favourites such as the Nissan Leaf and the Chevrolet Volt offer 99 MPG and 60 MPG respectively.
However there is now news of super-efficient hybrid cars that are planned to be released to the market as early as next year that can actually compete with runners for energy efficiency.
Wolfgang Durheimer, an executive at Audi, said that the German car manufacturer is working on a 1.0 litre car that will seat four people and deliver 282 MPG, utterly destroying any competitors currently on the market.
The vehicle will be based on the A1, but be specially designed to provide incredible fuel efficiency, by using a hybrid system with a small 1.0 litre diesel engine.
Related Article: GM Experiences Record Sales for Eco-Friendly Cars
VW, Audi's parent company, also has plans to release a production version of its XL1 concept car, which uses a similar hybrid system to deliver as much as 313 MPG.
The XL1 will go on sale next year, although don't expect it to be cheap, or fast. The 27 horsepower electric motor, backed up by a 48 horsepower diesel engine, is not designed for performance.
VW do not expect the XL1 to be a roaring success, but hope that it can prove to be a stepping stone on the path to a new era of incredibly efficient vehicles.
By. James Burgess of Oilprice.com
James Burgess studied Business Management at the University of Nottingham. He has worked in property development, chartered surveying, marketing, law, and accounts. He has also… More
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