CEDARVILLE — Cedarville University mechanical engineering senior Shannon Deal, of Sidney, is part of a team creating a new high-efficiency supermileage car for their senior design project. The new car, named Karcharias (Greek word for “shark”), was designed by mechanical engineering students in the class of 2017, and will be completed by this year’s mechanical engineering seniors. They will be assisted by an underclassman team, who will help construct the car and the new engine.

Cedarville University will enter Karcharias in the Society of Automotive Engineers Supermileage competition on June 7-8, 2018, in Marshall, Michigan. SAE supermileage cars compete to travel the farthest on one gallon of gas. Cedarville mechanical engineering department’s goal for Karcharias is 3,800 miles per gallon. The current record, held by Laval University, is 3,788 miles per gallon.

The most important components to effectively achieve supermileage is an aerodynamic shape, a high- efficiency engine, efficient transmission, easy-rolling chassis (the base frame of a motor vehicle) and skillful driving. Karcharias has a teardrop shape body, with two wheels in the front and one in the rear. It resembles a shark as its name implies.