To match Reuters Life! AUTOS/GREEN RACE
Teams of engineers and aspiring engineers participate in the annual Honda "Eco-Run" competition in Motegi, north of Tokyo, October 11, 2009. In the event, contenders design vehicles powered by a four-stroke 50cc engine, driving them seven laps around a track for a total 16.8 km (10.4 miles) using as little fuel as possible. Apart from a few regulations on the vehicle's dimensions -- they must measure under 3.5 metres (12 ft) long and have at least three wheels, for instance -- the rules are simple: cover the designated distance in under 39 minutes and 20 seconds, equivalent to a minimum speed of 25 km (15.5 miles) an hour. The mileage is calculated based on the amount of petrol consumed. The record so far is a mind-boggling 3,435 km/litre (8,080 miles per gallon), set in 2001. Picture taken October 11, 2009. To match Reuters Life! AUTOS/GREEN RACE REUTERS/Chang-Ran Kim (JAPAN TRANSPORT ENVIRONMENT SOCIETY)