Jorge Chapa, writing in Inhabitat, reports that the Hungarian prototype for the Antro Solo, production planned for 2012, gets 150 mpg, and here’s how:

• The hybrid electric/fossil fuel engine, familiar now to most of us – which captures energy while braking, thus recharging the electric batteries;
• an exceptionally light carbon composite frame;
• solar panels on the roof which can provide power for a 15 – 25 km trip (the post doesn’t specify how long that charge takes);
• The two passenger seats (it’s a three-seater) come with bicycle pedals, which can offset the car’s energy consumption;
• So if it’s dark, the battery is exhausted, you and your passengers are exhausted, what’s the last option?

Trick question: two options – a dual-fuel petrol/ethanol engine. Sound like an easy fit for a “station car,” if there’s any light at all. TRANSPORTATION TUESDAY: Antro Solo gets 150mpg at Inhabitat, in turn viaAutoFiends.

If this technology, and others like it, become competitive – whoever has developed it stands to make a lot of money – and contribute to a gradual drip-drip of oil company profits. (Today’s Times has a comment from a Saudi official, who articulated some anxiety that current price shock and anger might result in people remembering the current state of affairs, and reducing long-term demand for petroleum; we’ll try to post about this later – but – you read it here first – at least some of the Saudi leadership think’s we’re intelligent and adaptive. Flattery).