No biodiesel!! :-( But - BP-Amoco on the sponsors' list, and, so: "Facilitating the Next Generation of Natural Gas Trucks". Sigh...
Keith Addison Journey to Forever Handmade Projects Tokyo http://journeytoforever.org/ From: http://afdc3.nrel.gov/documents/altfuelnews/5_1contents.html AFDC - Alternative Fuel News - Vol. 5, No. 1. http://afdc3.nrel.gov/documents/altfuelnews/5_1feature_trucks.html AFDC - Alternative Fuel News - Vol. 5, No. 1 FutureTruck FutureTruck Students Rise to the Challenge Sport utility vehicles (SUVs) have emerged as the most popular single vehicle class in the United States. But they generally use more fuel and produce greater exhaust emissions than passenger cars. They're big, and getting bigger, in terms of both popularity and physical size. There's no doubt that SUVs are here to stay. The challenge is to create an SUV that meets the needs of the future, with better fuel efficiency and lower emissions, while retaining the comfort and performance that consumers have grown to expect. Fifteen teams of university students are rising to meet the challenge through FutureTruck, a four-year competition sponsored by DOE and General Motors (GM). Through FutureTruck, university students are building the SUV of the future, using advanced technologies such as fuel cells, light-weight materials, innovative powertrain strategies, and alternative fuels. GM is supplying seed money, prize money, vehicles (Chevrolet Suburbans), and facilities for testing and evaluation. Ford Motor Company will become the automotive sponsor in 2002 and 2003. FutureTruck student teams compete in a series of performance events including acceleration, trailer tow performance, off-road handling, and on-road fuel economy; as well as static design events, such as consumer acceptability and engineering design. The vehicles are tested for full fuel cycle analysis, and each team must also prepare a written and oral technical presentation. Last year marked the start of the four-year FutureTruck competition. With less than five months to modify their vehicles, students managed to increase on-road fuel efficiency of their Chevrolet Suburbans by 13%, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 25% (compared to stock vehicles). For more on last year's FutureTruck competition, see AFN Vol. 4, No. 2, or visit www.futuretruck.org. What's it like to be a student participating in FutureTruck? "It's inspiring," said Steve Gurski, team leader for Virginia Tech. "In FutureTruck there's always a new challenge that no one has ever met before." According to Gurski, undergraduate students and their team leaders spend as many as 30 hours per week on their vehicles. Team leaders-typically graduate students-spend even more time. They also help leverage funds and support for the project, write reports and waivers, and direct resources to help solve problems when necessary. Team leaders ensure that the team, and the vehicle, are ready for the June competition. For many students, FutureTruck is a life-changing experience. "I got involved because of the toys, not realizing what a difference it would make in my career," said Michael Ogburn, last year's team leader for Virginia Tech. "Three years of playing with cars and trucks left me so aware of my passion to make a difference in the struggle to save the planet, that it makes my head spin to imagine doing anything else," he said. The FutureTruck 2001 competition will be held June 4-13. Events will be held at the GM Proving Ground in Milford, Mich. Teams will then travel to Washington D.C. for an awards ceremony and vehicle display on Capitol Hill. FutureTruck Teams * Concordia University * Cornell University * George Washington University * Georgia Institute of Technology * Michigan Technological University * Ohio State University * Pennsylvania State University * Texas Tech University * University of California, Davis * University of Idaho * University of Maryland * University of Tennessee * University of Wisconsin, Madison * Virginia Tech * West Virginia University FutureTruck 2001 Headline Sponsors * U.S. Department of Energy * General Motors Additional Sponsors * The Aluminum Association * Arvin Meritor * BP-Amoco * Cisco Systems * Delphi Automotive Systems * Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company * Governors' Ethanol Coalition * Illinois Department of Commerce and Community Affairs * MathWorks * National Instruments * Natural Resources Canada * National Science Foundation * Newark Electronics * Renewable Fuels Association Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html To unsubscribe, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
