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UpInArms

(55,320 posts) Sat May 5, 2012, 07:02 PM May 2012

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High school senior finds way to get nearly 200 mpg in vehicle [View all]

http://www.kctv5.com/story/18100916/high-school-senior

With higher gas prices, everyone is looking for ways to save money at the pump.

But one Northwest Missouri high school senior found a way to get nearly 200 miles per gallon in his transportation.

Don Gibson, 18, does not have the coolest looking car in the parking lot.

"A lot of people consider me to be weird... I just take that as a compliment," he said.

It doesn't really look like there's a lot to his 1994 Geo Metro. But, when he bought it, he pulled out the gas engine and replaced it with an electric forklift engine he bought on eBay.

....more....

just thought everyone else should be as proud of my son as I am

117 replies

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High school senior finds way to get nearly 200 mpg in vehicle [View all] UpInArms May 2012 OP

Wow! Good for your kid! This is outstanding! Nay May 2012 #1

thanks UpInArms May 2012 #8

Your son is downright amazing. Thanks for sharing. Schema Thing May 2012 #2

he is amazing UpInArms May 2012 #4

Thats your kid ? FreakinDJ May 2012 #6

well, I have to share him with his father UpInArms May 2012 #7

congrats and my best to your Son BadGimp May 2012 #41

you guys Voice for Peace May 2012 #97

Congratulations. surrealAmerican May 2012 #3

he graduates from high school next Sunday UpInArms May 2012 #5

I must have misunderstood. The headline says 200 mpg... Common Sense Party May 2012 #9

the news station did that - yes, the car is all electric UpInArms May 2012 #11

Some people evaluate the performance of EV's using a "fuel mileage equivalent" metric. lumberjack_jeff May 2012 #16

Yah for weird! Baitball Blogger May 2012 #10

we think that is true UpInArms May 2012 #13

weird = unique = not a typical zombie PatrynXX May 2012 #54

Weird is where the answers are. Baitball Blogger May 2012 #76

That is pretty bad ass. nt ZombieHorde May 2012 #12

I think it's awesome UpInArms May 2012 #18

That is so cool. Skinner May 2012 #14

Thanks, I am - he is the UpInArms May 2012 #17

No wonder you are proud of him zeemike May 2012 #15

here's another link to a different news story UpInArms May 2012 #20

"A worthy little beast," indeed! klook May 2012 #64

That's awesome, but encourage him to build boxes to hold his batteries. n/t lumberjack_jeff May 2012 #19

the batteries are anchored in place UpInArms May 2012 #21

Well done! n/t ejbr May 2012 #22

good on yer! ninehippies May 2012 #23

UpInArms Diclotican May 2012 #24

Your son is awesome! Wheezy May 2012 #25

re: High school senior finds way to get nearly 200 mpg in vehicle allan01 May 2012 #26

I don't think the entire DU put together could possibly be LadyHawkAZ May 2012 #27

Bitchin! SunSeeker May 2012 #28

Cool. Hissyspit May 2012 #29

Unfortunately... SunDrop23 May 2012 #30

It's an ELECTRIC car, it doesnt REALLY get 200 mpg. groundloop May 2012 #37

That's kind of the point Alcibiades May 2012 #58

Good point. This proves the statement made Tom Poll Master May 2012 #75

Well, tell the whole story skepticscott May 2012 #81

hi skepticscott UpInArms May 2012 #82

Your son has a nice little skepticscott May 2012 #85

skepticscott misses the point NJCher May 2012 #86

Uh, no..."the point" is what Alcibiades explicitly said it was skepticscott May 2012 #88

you do realize that those are the words of the reporter, UpInArms May 2012 #90

And do you realize skepticscott May 2012 #91

It's obviously a used car Alcibiades May 2012 #104

Guys, Scott is right. Atypical Liberal May 2012 #108

Wow bahrbearian May 2012 #31

Amazing! He shows up the whole industry! immoderate May 2012 #32

Bravo, Don! beac May 2012 #33

Just wanted to come back to the thread before I go and give this to Don UpInArms May 2012 #34

he got his brains and his good looks from his mom!!!! grantcart May 2012 #35

Well done Don and congrats Dad (and Mom) on Smilo May 2012 #36

YAAAAHHH!! LASlibinSC May 2012 #38

Speaking as a true-blue gearhead..... AverageJoe90 May 2012 #39

It is youth like yours that we need to lead us into the future. He is thinking. jwirr May 2012 #40

Well hot damn! Good on your son... a la izquierda May 2012 #42

What a great kid! You must be the kas125 May 2012 #43

Thanks for this post, loved reading about a kid who is thinking. AnotherDreamWeaver May 2012 #44

Well done, both of you! polichick May 2012 #45

Damn, 2 cents a mile. bemildred May 2012 #46

I predict a bright future in engineering for your son SnohoDem May 2012 #47

Now how do we get these guys some start up capital? grahamhgreen May 2012 #48

Is it easy to install an electric forklift engine? Rosa Luxemburg May 2012 #49

awesome WillYourVoteBCounted May 2012 #50

Congratulations to your son and to all of you! (nt) Tumbulu May 2012 #51

I'm impressed! pacalo May 2012 #52

Cool! Following in the footsteps of Edison. Beartracks May 2012 #53

That is so cool! The Traveler May 2012 #55

Congrats to your son! Leftist Agitator May 2012 #56

that is awesome KT2000 May 2012 #57

Wicked cool AtheistCrusader May 2012 #59

K&R and off to Facebook...this is just wonderful! snappyturtle May 2012 #60

Thats what we call good old fashioned ingenuity.... Historic NY May 2012 #61

I saw the news earlier tonight and thought it was great. Live and Learn May 2012 #62

congratulations barbtries May 2012 #63

Tell Don to set up a Kickstarter page for his next project klook May 2012 #65

Incredibly awesome! salin May 2012 #66

Wow. That's amazing. That kid is going places. nt Honeycombe8 May 2012 #67

oh my! UpInArms May 2012 #68

You made my day. What a kid! (and what a parent - well done!) Rose Siding May 2012 #69

I think there is only one gas station in Grant City... liberal N proud May 2012 #70

So impressive! Congrats! KeepItReal May 2012 #71

It's surely the coolest car in the parking lot caraher May 2012 #72

High school senior finds way to get nearly 200 mpg in vehicle AlbertCat May 2012 #73

Good for him, and I hope you encourage him to make a career out of this Bjorn Against May 2012 #74

This is one smart young man! mntleo2 May 2012 #77

I saw the link to this on cnn.com! renate May 2012 #78

No surprise here UIA! JNelson6563 May 2012 #79

thank you, Julie (and everyone else who has posted, read - looked at this post and the link) UpInArms May 2012 #80

Better hire some security, kid. Sarcasticus May 2012 #83

I'll look for great things from this young man! LongTomH May 2012 #84

That's awesome! Cue Exxon denial in 3...2...1... Initech May 2012 #87

You should be th proudest parents... liberal N proud May 2012 #89

THIS SHOULD GO ON NIGHTLINE!! GIVE HIM MEDAL DAMMIT!! Bill USA May 2012 #92

I couldn't possibly by as proud as you must be. You'll have to settle for impressed. jobycom May 2012 #93

Very nice auburngrad82 May 2012 #94

Paging Elon Musk (Tesla Motors). . . DinahMoeHum May 2012 #95

WOW! Skittles May 2012 #96

Sharp kid!! blaze May 2012 #98

Did he get the adapter to hook the motor to the tranny machined, or buy jtuck004 May 2012 #99

he and his father designed and spec'cd UpInArms May 2012 #100

here's a link to his blog that he sort of kept when he was converting UpInArms May 2012 #102

This is what makes the future promising. Awesome. crazy homeless guy May 2012 #101

Wish I knew how to contact him (or you) rwsanders May 2012 #103

You should be proud! emsimon33 May 2012 #105

Congrats! Rain Mcloud May 2012 #106

Couldl you ask your son -- Hell Hath No Fury May 2012 #107

Hi All - I talked with Don and he has been keeping up (sort of) UpInArms May 2012 #109

I want one! JulianneI Jul 2012 #117

I saw this in The Star this morning. Cracklin Charlie May 2012 #110

What a kid!!! wendylaroux May 2012 #111

UIA.... AnneD May 2012 #112

hi AnneD! UpInArms May 2012 #113

Congratulations to him for completing his project. It really isn't anything revolutionary... PoliticAverse May 2012 #114

So as the very proud Auntie Caretha May 2012 #115

Wow, Bridget! susu369 May 2012 #116