Eaton Hosts SAE Fuel Efficiency Competition; Vehicles Top 1,800 mpg

MARSHALL, Mich.--June 9, 2006--A trip from New York City to Denver is about 1,800 miles and - if you let high school students design the vehicle - it can be done on a gallon of gas.

For the 27th consecutive year, diversified industrial manufacturer, Eaton Corp. , is hosting the SAE International annual Supermileage event, held June 8 and 9 at Eaton Proving Grounds in Marshall, Mich. Supermileage is a technology showcase designed to encourage engineering students from across North America to set a world fuel economy record and increase public awareness of fuel efficiency approaches.

This year's Supermileage(TM) event will attract more than 200 college and high school students representing 29 colleges and 12 high schools from across North America to design and build vehicles that achieve amazing fuel efficiency. Student vehicles compete on Eaton's 1.6-mile track with the goal of achieving the best fuel efficiency possible. Last year's winning college team from the University of British Columbia posted 1,608 mpg, and the best high school team from Evansville (Ind.) Mater Dei High School achieved 1,836 mpg.

As a developer of engine technologies that help improve fuel economy, Eaton is involved in Supermileage(TM) to help foster engineering talent and offer students an opportunity to demonstrate their capabilities by solving real-world challenges.

Students are responsible for developing and submitting a detailed project plan, obtaining funding for the project, presenting plan summaries to SAE International representatives and executing the plan. The teams, primarily made up of students from aeronautical, mechanical and electrical engineering programs, are required to design and build a one-person, fuel-efficient vehicle powered by identical four-cycle engines. Vehicles must have a minimum of three wheels, and the driver must be fully enclosed to prevent contact with the ground. The length, width and height of the vehicles are not restricted.

During the two-day competition, teams are judged in two categories: vehicle design and performance during their competition run. The run includes driving six laps around Eaton's 2.6 km (1.6 miles) oval-shaped test track at a minimum average speed of 24 km/hr (15 mph). The vehicle's fuel efficiency is computed and the top three teams with the best performance receive trophies.

Faculty from Western Michigan University and engineers from Eaton conceived the competition in 1979. The event is now part of SAE International's Collegiate Design Series, which includes events designed to increase student involvement and public awareness of engineering challenges facing the automotive industry while providing future engineers practical experience in design and fabrication disciplines. For more information on Supermileage(TM), visit SAE International's Web site at http://www.sae.org/students/supermw.htm

Eaton Corporation is a diversified industrial manufacturer with 2005 sales of $11.1 billion. Eaton is a global leader in electrical systems and components for power quality, distribution and control; fluid power systems and services for industrial, mobile and aircraft equipment; intelligent truck drivetrain systems for safety and fuel economy; and automotive engine air management systems, powertrain solutions and specialty controls for performance, fuel economy and safety. Eaton has 60,000 employees and sells products to customers in more than 125 countries. For more information, visit www.eaton.com.