Craig Vetter Fuel Economy Challenge

Craig Vetter Fuel Economy Challenge
GenreMotorcycle rally/technology demonstration
FrequencyAnnually
Location(s)Ohio, California, Nevada
Inaugurated1980
FounderCraig Vetter
Most recentJuly 13, 2014[1]
Next eventOctober 11, 2014 (San Luis Obispo to Carmel, California)[2]
WebsiteCraig Vetter Fuel Economy Challenge

The Craig Vetter Fuel Economy Challenge is a motorcycle fuel efficiency contest created in 1980 by motorcycle fairing inventor Craig Vetter.[2] The contest was cited in Vetter's Motorcycle Hall of Fame induction.[3]

The contest initially ran from 1980 to 1985, with the inaugural run from Colorado Springs to Cripple Creek, Colorado.[4] After a 25-year break, the contest resumed from 2011 with revised Vetter Fuel Challenge rules allowing for alternative fuel categories and requiring street usability including goods-carrying capability.[5][6][7] This is considered a particularly important future need for electric motorcycles like the Zero,[8][9] where battery constraints limit usable range, and the need for lengthy recharging cycles at public electrical points punctuates journeys and necessitates careful trip planning.[10]

A streamlined motorcycle designed by Charly Perethian with a 185 cc Yamaha motor achieved 372 miles per US gallon (0.632 L/100 km; 447 mpg‑imp) at the 1983 challenge, and is now displayed in the Smithsonian Institution.[6][11][12]

  1. ^ Jim Witters (July 13, 2014), "Vetter Fuel Economy Challenge tests fuel mileage limits", American Motorcyclist, American Motorcyclist Association
  2. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference challenge-main was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference HOF was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference wheelnerds was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ "Vetter Fuel Challenge Goals and Rules" Archived 2014-09-06 at the Wayback Machine, Craig Vetter's official website. Retrieved 2013-05-27
  6. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference nyt2011 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ Vetter, Craig (June 7, 2011), "Green transportation: Living Better on Less Energy: Fuel Economy History Was Made in California: Diesels rule at the Quail Vetter Challenge", Mother Earth News, retrieved 2013-11-17
  8. ^ "Streamlining the Zero - conceived" Archived 2014-09-06 at the Wayback Machine, Craig Vetter's official website. Retrieved 2013-05-27.
  9. ^ "Streamlining the Zero - part 2" Archived 2014-07-14 at the Wayback Machine, Craig Vetter's official website. Retrieved 2013-05-27.
  10. ^ David Herron, "How did Terry Hershner travel 3500+ miles on an electric motorcycle in 6 days?" Torque News, 2012-12-13. Retrieved 2013-05-27
  11. ^ America on the Move: Pope, Cleveland, Autoped, and Simplex, Smithsonian Institution National Museum of American History
  12. ^ "Smithsonian exhibit opens", American Motorcyclist: 9, September 1986