Vehicles That Get More Than 1,500 mpg Compete at SAE Supermilage Event at Eaton

MARSHALL, Mich.--June 9, 2005--Can you imagine a vehicle that achieves nearly 1,750 miles per gallon (mpg)? It exists. In fact, at last year's Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) Supermileage(TM) event, hosted by Eaton Corp. , the winning vehicle boasted an incredible 1,747 mpg.

This year's Supermileage(TM) event will bring more than 200 college and high school students representing 28 colleges and eight high schools from across North America to Eaton's proving grounds in Marshall, Mich., on June 9 and 10 for the annual event.

This is the 26th consecutive year Eaton is hosting the competition designed to highlight technology and innovation that promotes fuel efficiency. Students create vehicles that will compete on Eaton's 1.6-mile track with the goal of achieving the best fuel efficiency possible. Last year's winning college team from the University of British Columbia posted 1,747 mpg, and the best high school team from Evansville (Ind.) Mater Dei High School achieved 1,352 mpg.

As a developer of engine technologies that help improve fuel economy, Eaton is involved in Supermileage(TM) to help foster engineering talent and offer students an opportunity to demonstrate their capabilities by solving real-world challenges.

Students are responsible for developing and submitting a detailed project plan, obtaining funding for the project and executing the plan. The teams, primarily made up of students from aeronautical, mechanical and electrical engineering programs, are required to design and build a one-person, fuel-efficient vehicle powered by identical four-cycle engines. Vehicles must have a minimum of three wheels, and the driver must be fully enclosed to prevent contact with the ground. The length, width and height of the vehicles are not restricted.

During the two-day competition, teams are judged in two categories: vehicle design and performance during their competition run. The run includes driving six laps around Eaton's 2.6 km (1.6 miles) oval-shaped test track at a minimum average speed of 24 km/hr (15 mph). The vehicle's fuel efficiency is computed and the top three teams with the best performance receive trophies.

Faculty from Western Michigan University and engineers from Eaton conceived the competition in 1979. The event is now part of SAE's Collegiate Design Series, which includes events designed to increase student involvement and public awareness of engineering challenges facing the automotive industry while providing future engineers practical experience in design and fabrication disciplines. For more information on Supermileage(TM), visit SAE's Web site at http://www.sae.org/students/supermw.htm

Eaton Corporation is a diversified industrial manufacturer with 2004 sales of $9.8 billion. Eaton is a global leader in electrical systems and components for power quality, distribution and control; fluid power systems and services for industrial, mobile and aircraft equipment; intelligent truck drivetrain systems for safety and fuel economy; and automotive engine air management systems, powertrain solutions and specialty controls for performance, fuel economy and safety. Eaton has 56,000 employees and sells products to customers in more than 125 countries. For more information, visit www.eaton.com.