by 
The Curious Bag
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A fuel-efficient car is one which can move passengers across a given distance using the least amount of fuel possible. There are many means to this end, but very few trump the most obvious.
Weight
The less weight there is to move, the less fuel is required to move it. As such, the most fuel-efficient vehicles in the world are motorcycles.
Fuel
In general, diesel engines can utilize more of the fuel's chemical energy per stroke than gasoline powerplants. This is especially true in traffic, where diesels can use up to 40 percent less fuel to idle.
Hybrids
Hybrid cars use a supplemental electric motor to allow a car to sit in traffic without idling. Though regenerative braking (recharging) does play a part in a hybrid's efficiency, this advantage is usually lost on the highway.
Aerodynamics
A vehicle with less aerodynamic drag will cut through the air more efficiently and get better mileage than one with more drag.
Best-Case Scenario
The most fuel-efficient vehicle possible with today's technology would be a diesel-electric motorcycle. In fact, one such vehicle is being developed by eCycle, which claims to have achieved 180 miles per gallon in testing.
Source:
Resource:
225 MPG Plug-in Diesel-Electric Kit Car (Video)
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