George Parker, the president of Fuel Vapor Technologies is "responsible" for the 92 mpg - 0-60 in 5 seconds Fuel Vapor ale (alé - alay in French). The Fuel Vapor ale has 160 hp, accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in around 5 seconds and with all this performance it gets 92 miles per US gallon.
Fuel Vapor Technologies Press Release:
New car hits 92 mpg.
Fuel Vapor Technologies has developed what could be the highest mileage car in North America – by a long shot. Created by inventor George Parker, this new concept car named the “ alé ” (alay) has been in development for 15 years. A dedicated
team has been assembling the 1st prototype over the past year and the results are outstanding.
Car features:
- 92 miles per US gallon
- 0-60 in under 5 seconds
- 3-wheeled configuration
- 160 horsepower
- 12.9 second 1/4 mile time
- 1.7 G’s cornering performance
- “Super-low” emissions rating
Three wheels better than 4?:
The alé features a unique 3-wheeled configuration: 2 in the front, and one in the rear. The front wheels drive and steer the vehicle. This design enables the car to perform at a superb level, particularly in cornering, with the car easily pulling 1.7 g’s in corners during track testing on street tires. The three-wheeled automotive platform also aid in improving
fuel efficiency and aerodynamics.
Vapor system:
The car’s key innovation is the fuel vapor system. This technology (which is in the patenting pending process) allows the engine to run on “fuel vapors” rather than liquid fuel. The majority of gas engines today run 14.7:1 – (14.7 parts air to 1 part gasoline). This proprietary fuel vapor
system allows the alé to run on a ratio of over 20:1 without compromising performance. According to the textbooks, this ratio is impossible, as a standard engine would not start or run on a air/fuel ratio this low. With a 10 gallon gas tank found on most vehicles, the alé can travel from Vancouver BC to San Francisco CA on one tank. Over 15 hours of driving without filling up.
Performance:
Not only does the alé have extreme mileage capabilities, but its performance is better than many high-end sports cars. It accelerates from 0-60 in 5 seconds, and will pull over 1.7 g’s while cornering. Brad Zimmerman, head tech for the company stated during testing, “I drove it hard
at the track for 4 solid hours, throwing it into corners and accelerating fast. The car’s performance is spectacular. After all that hard driving, we only went through $10 in gas.”
Emissions:
The alé runs on regular gasoline, and easily achieves the level of “super low” emissions. Even more impressive is the fact that all the data to date has been gathered without a catalytic converter.
The Future:
This is the first time the public have had a chance to view the alé. The company is currently seeking investors to take the alé into production. They will also be entering the “Automotive X-Prize” competition for the most fuel efficient production vehicle.
Technical Specifications
Body
Hand-layed fiberglass composite
Chassis
Full tube frame with roll cage
Engine
- High mileage Honda engine
- Turbo Charged 1500cc
- 2 Stage single cam Vtec
- Gasoline vapor fuel management system
- power: 180 HP
- 0-60 MPH in 5 seconds
- 1/4 mile time of 12.9 seconds
Transmission
5 speed standard, or 4 speed over drive automatic
Front Suspension
Honda CRX with fully adjustable coil over
Rear Suspension
Single sided swing arm with fully adjustable coil over
Steering
Porsche 911 rack and pinion (2.25 turns lock-to-lock)
Front Brakes
Front discs: 12.1" diameter vented and scallopped rotors, 4-piston calipers
Rear Brakes
10" disc brakes
Wheels & Tires
Aluminum 18" X 8" front and rear
Configuration
Two seat tandem. - shoulder seat belts
Dimensions
- Wheelbase: 110”
- Outside to outside track: 71.5"
- Length: 174’’
- Height: 50“
- Dry Weight: 1400 lbs
- Fuel Capacity: 10 gal.
- Top speed: Electronically limited to 140 mph.
