The 26th annual Supermileage and Electrathon challenges teams to create energy-efficient vehicles. A total of nine schools from three states are scheduled to bring more than 30 cars to the event, about 50 percent more cars than last year.
Except for one heat Friday, all racing takes place Saturday. The Friday schedule includes a car show at 3 p.m. and safety inspections.
Schools scheduled to compete are:
- Barneveld
- Bonduel
- Bowler
- Edgerton
- Kennedy, Cedar Rapids, Iowa
- Lakeview Technical Academy, Lakeview
- New Richmond
- Peshtigo
- Winona, Minn.
A Barneveld car won last year, achieving 499 miles per gallon. Cars run laps on a three-quarter-mile course on a closed airport runway. Fuel efficiency is determined after they finish.
A Barneveld car also won the Electrathon, for cars with electric motors. The winner was based on the car that could do the most laps in an hour on a single electric charge. The winning car covered 29.5 laps.
The event is hosted by the Technology Engineering Education Collegiate Association, with close to 30 members participating.
“This furthers our educational experience because it teaches us the responsibility of running a huge event like this on our own,” said Meghan Cops, a technology education major from Brillion. “Also, it is a great opportunity to get to know more technology and engineering instructors throughout Wisconsin and other states. It's a great way to get connections and get our names out there for our future profession.”
The competition is part of the ChallengeWisconsin series sponsored by the Wisconsin Energy Efficient Vehicle Association. Four other events are scheduled around the region this spring, including at UW-Platteville. The series originated at Ͽ in 1993.
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Photo
A Ͽ TEECA member prepares to start a car at the 2017 event.
