Future Automotive Engineers Converge in Detroit for Ethanol Vehicle Challenge
18 May 1999
U.S. Department of Energy: Future Automotive Engineers from 14 Universities Converge on Detroit for Ethanol Vehicle ChallengeMILFORD, Mich., May 18 -- While car fans everywhere will turn to the Indy 500 later this month, the eyes of many of America's top automotive engineers will be focused on an altogether different kind of competition. That's when an elite group of college students converge this Thursday at General Motors' (GM) Proving Ground in Milford, Mich., with something big to prove: that the four-wheel-drive 1999 Chevy Silverado pickup trucks they re-engineered to run on ethanol fuel not only can perform as well as their gas-powered counterparts, but also can stand up to the rigors of a five-day test at one of the world's most sophisticated automotive testing centers. The 200 students -- representing 14 of the top U.S. and Canadian engineering colleges and universities -- as large as the University of Nebraska and as small as Ohio's Cedarville College -- will come together outside Detroit May 19 to compete in the 1999 Ethanol Vehicle Challenge, a college-level automotive engineering competition sponsored by U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), GM, Natural Resources Canada and others. At stake for these students is more than $21,000 in prizes, a chance to demonstrate both their engineering ingenuity and the technologies they've developed to future employers, and bragging rights across North America. The Challenge tests the student designs for converting Chevy trucks with 5.3L, V-8, Gen. III gasoline-powered engines to vehicles that run on E85 (a blend of 85 percent denatured ethanol and 15 percent gasoline primer). Ethanol, a domestic renewable fuel generally made from sugars from corn starches, is one of several alternative fuels endorsed by both DOE and Detroit as a cleaner-burning, renewable alternative to gasoline and diesel fuel. "These student efforts are paving the way for ethanol to fulfill its potential to reduce foreign-oil dependence, pollution and global warming. Beyond the technology these students may develop, however, sponsorship of these competitions goes a long way toward developing engineers of the future -- and that benefit cannot be overemphasized," said Shelley Launey , DOE Director of Clean Cities. Opportunity to 'Dream up' and Demonstrate Now in its second year, the Ethanol Vehicle Challenge is one of several college automotive engineering competitions sponsored by the U.S. DOE and America's automakers. The competitions challenge student teams to design advanced automotive technologies, but also offer aspiring engineers a rare opportunity to 'dream up' and demonstrate solutions to real-world problems. Indeed many of the student competitors are eventually hired by the automakers; 65 percent of last year's 200 Ethanol Vehicle Challenge graduates were offered jobs in the auto industry. The benefits of the competition go far beyond the classroom, however. Both the DOE and GM -- along with 11 other sponsors and supporters -- are able to use the information gathered during the vehicle competitions to bring cutting-edge results closer to the consumer's driveway. In 1998, for example, GM tested the ethanol-power vehicles to validate a new diagnostic instrument that could one day reduce emissions testing costs for alcohol-fueled vehicles. "GM intends to learn from the experiences of the participating schools about ethanol vehicle technology," said Ed Koerner, Executive Director of powertrain, chassis, HVAC and cooling systems. "Our plan is to transfer that knowledge to our alternate fuels programs as quickly as possible." The students' work began last November when each team took possession of a 1999 Chevy Silverado 4x4 pickup donated by the GM Truck Group. Next week, the teams travel to Detroit for the final evaluation of their vehicles. The Challenge includes five days of intense vehicle and student testing at GM's Milford, Mich., Proving Ground, followed by a two-day, 600-mile "victory tour." The competition, conducted May 19-23, includes technical reports and oral presentations by the students, as well as a series of performance tests for the trucks. Once the contest is complete, the teams and their ethanol-powered trucks will form a motorcade and, from May 24-26, travel more than 600 miles to test the reliability of the converted trucks. Scheduled stops include the State Capitol Building in Lansing, Mich., the GM assembly plant in Ft. Wayne, Ind., the State Capitol Building in Indianapolis, Ind. and the Williams Ethanol plant in Peoria, Ill. The motorcade ends at the Illinois State Fairgrounds in Springfield, where the winners will be named May 26. Developing Engineers of the Future Awards will be made for first through fifth place in overall performance, plus categories such as most appealing vehicle, lowest emissions and best fuel economy. While the competition begins on Wednesday, May 19, opening ceremonies for the Challenge are scheduled for 1 p.m. (EDT) Thursday, May 20, at the Milford Proving Ground. Speakers include Richard Moorer, associate deputy assistant secretary for transportation technologies, DOE; Ian McEwan, director of engineering, quality and product assurance, GM Proving Ground, and Tom Stephens, GM Vice President and Group Director, Truck Group. Other sponsors include: Illinois Department of Commerce and Community Affairs, State of Nebraska, Council of Great Lakes Governors, Renewable Fuels Association, the Illinois Corn Marketing Board, Governors' Ethanol Coalition, National Corn Growers Association, Canadian Renewable Fuels Association, Williams Ethanol, GROWMARK, Delphi Automotive and Energy Systems. Overall Engineering Design Overall design and execution of the vehicle conversion, including fuel delivery and induction, emissions control and performance. Emissions EPA's Standard Federal Test Procedure and Highway Fuel Economy Test are conducted (measures, oxides of Nitrogen, Hydrocarbons and Carbon Monoxide) Cold start How quickly the truck starts after spending eight hours in sub-freezing temperatures. Driveability How well the engine responds after warming up. Acceleration How quickly the truck accelerates from a standing start over a quarter mile. Noise The amount of noise the vehicle makes while traveling at approximately 37 mph. On-road fuel economy Under controlled conditions, how far the truck, loaded with 1,000 lbs. of sand, can travel before it runs out of fuel. Hill climb How quickly the truck can pull a 7,000 lb. ballast trailer up a constant 7 percent grade. Off-road event How well the truck maneuvers, accelerates and brakes on a gravel road. Ethanol Vehicle Challenge: Participating Schools Schools competing in the 1999 Ethanol Vehicle Challenge include: -- Cedarville College (Cedarville, Ohio), -- Crowder College (Neosho, Mo.), -- Idaho State University (Pocatello, Idaho), -- Illinois Institute of Technology (Chicago), -- Kettering University (Flint, Mich.), -- Minnesota State University (Mankato, Minn.), -- University of California at Riverside -- University of Illinois at Chicago -- University of Kansas at Lawrence -- University of Nebraska at Lincoln -- University of Texas at Austin -- University of Texas at El Paso -- University of Waterloo (Waterloo, Ontario, Canada) -- Wayne State University (Detroit)