100-MPG SUV

Back in the heyday of the internal-combustion engine, when gasoline was cheap and highways were full, not many motorists fretted about fuel economy. Teenagers could drive all night on a few bucks worth of gas. Long commutes weren't yet commonplace. Traffic jams were more likely to occur on Sundays, when "everybody" was out driving, than on workdays.

Gimmicks and Gadgets
Even a quarter a gallon was too much for true frugality-minded folks, who began to complain about fuel costs. Hearing those pleas, some zealous entrepreneurs came up with solutions. Modern technology, they claimed, could let cars travel vastly farther on a gallon of gasoline. Thus were born such gadgets as the 100-mile-per-gallon carburetor.


Did they work? No reliable demonstrations ever proved they did. Yet, enough gullible drivers chose to ignore that lack of evidence to keep those "scientists" afloat for years. No one can say how many people ordered information or actual gadgets by mail, in the hope that they really would make cars operate for pennies a day.

Reachable Goal
Today, with gasoline topping $4 a gallon and diesel stretching past $5, reports of vehicles that can get 100 mpg, or even 150 mpg, again are making the rounds. This time, the claims emanate from respected engineering firms, often in accord with major automakers. Hybrid technology, particularly the prospect of plug-in hybrids, is making such claims appear reasonable and reachable.


Is this kind of gas mileage too good to be true, or can it feasibly be achieved? A new joint venture, partnering with one of the major domestic automakers, claims to be preparing such a vehicle. Two organizations—FEV and Raser Technologies—joined forces to develop this concept, which was announced at the SAE World Congress, presented by SAE International (the preeminent engineering association) in April 2008.

Plug-In Hybrid Technology
Announcement of an actual vehicle that will use this technology is planned for a "prominent" auto show, as early as the third quarter of 2008. Testing is scheduled to begin this fall, and vehicles could be on sale in low volume (to fleets) in about two years. Higher-volume production could begin a year later, they believe.