The One Gallon Challenge is a chance for everyone to get a look at some ultra-economical vehicles and to see them perform in real-life conditions. These vehicles will travel from Plymouth, MA on Thursday, August 18th, the opening day of Boston Greenfest 2011, to see how they travel the 111 miles to Boston on the energy of one gallon of gasoline. The application process is now open and will remain open until Friday, August 12th.

We are looking for vehicles that are light weight, have good aerodynamics, and use very efficient propulsion systems to stretch the energy which fuels them, while at the same time allowing passengers the safety and comfort we insist on. Here is a short description of a few potential entries:

The Roopod is even slicker and lighter, being built almost entirely of aluminum, by an Industrial Designer from western Massachusetts. See www.roopod.com for details. It is powered by a 2-cylinder diesel engine and will be the first time it challenges other vehicles on the road.

Dirigo, a three-wheeled diesel two passenger vehicle is made in Maine. It has won its class in the Green Grand Prix, averaging 90 MPG. Can you tell it was designed by boat builders?

MIT's electric Porsche has been part of the One Gallon Challenge since 2009. Let's see what the students have done to increase its efficiency this year!

Previous entries are:

In 2010, we hosted the world's first wind/solar powered vehicle engineered in Switzerland by ICARE. It has since travelled across the USA, down through South America and back to Europe. On to Asia?!

Exertrike's "Stealth" is powered by human, electric, and diesel power.

Gaia Transport's is a single passenger commuter.

Moonbeam, also made in Maine, is a well-proven 100 MPG around-town vehicle. Moonbeam has been twice to the Altwheels Festival in Boston, and once to the 2009 One Gallon Challenge where it saw efficiency of 93 mpg.

There is a truck from Maine, not a passenger car, the Ricker Truck, that is an interesting entry!

"EV Jerry" has competed with his "Spirit of DC", a plug-in Prius Hybrid which visited all the state capitals in the lower 48 states.