World's Largest Clean Car Competition Starts its Engines in California

NEW YORK, Sept. 24 -- More than 100 cars and trucks from the world's leading automakers and research universities have gathered in Northern California this week for the world's largest environmental vehicle event: Michelin's fifth-annual Challenge Bibendum. The global event highlights the progress of environmentally friendly, advanced technology vehicles. Representatives from industry leaders such as Ford, DaimlerChrysler, Honda, Nissan and Toyota, plus participants from more than 30 countries, have gathered here to drive and discuss the latest advancements in environmentally positive transportation. The event is named for Bibendum, the fun-loving man of tires that has symbolized Michelin for more than a century. Many of the vehicles participating in Challenge Bibendum are already available to consumers, such as the Honda Civic and the Toyota Prius Hybrid. These cars are powered by an electric motor in addition to an efficient gasoline engine. Ford's H2ICE Focus runs on Hydrogen and its exhaust is only water vapor. Vehicles propelled by natural gas, propane, biofuels and electricity already share the road with today's gasoline vehicles and their numbers are increasing. All these technologies are participating in this year's Challenge Bibendum, where they will be judged on environmental friendliness, safety, performance and design.