Supercar for cops

Another way the Carbon E7 will save fuel, its creators claim, is by building things like flashing lights into the car's body rather than adding them as bolted-on protrusions that increase aerodynamic drag.

The company is researching what types of light colors and flash pattens work best, said Li. That type of research simply hasn't been done before, Carbon CEO William Li says, and some types of flashing lights could actually increase crashes. Instead of warning drivers away, elaborate light displays can attract drunk drivers to head straight into the back of a police cruiser parked beside a highway.

NEXT: Retirement plan