West Virginia University engineering students will defend their FutureTruck title this week at the General Motors Proving Ground in Milford, Mich.
At a time of soaring gas prices, WVU and 14 other schools will compete for the right to call their re-engineered Chevrolet Suburbans the most fuel-efficient, environmentally friendly sport utility vehicle. Participants will compete through June 11 in Milford, then travel to Washington, D.C., for two days to show their vehicles and attend an awards ceremony.
WVU and the University of Maryland were last years overall winners.
“The competition is clearly fierce with a variety of technologies involved,”said mechanical and aerospace engineering Professor Nigel Clark, faculty adviser for WVU s team.”This year we are using a smaller engine and relying more on our hybrid diesel-electric capability. We are confident that our performance will exceed that of last year.”
The competition, sponsored by GM and the U.S. Department of Energy, evolved from the Future Car Challenge. Participating student teams modify the powertrain on a GM sport utility vehicle to increase fuel economy. They may employ various advanced automotive technologies, including hydrogen fuel cells, hybrid powertrains combining electric motors and internal combustion engines, emerging computer technology, advanced electronics and alternative fuels.
WVU students replaced their vehicles gas-operated engine with a 2.5-liter prototype Detroit Diesel engine, added a 100-horsepower electric motor and installed a manual transmission, Dr. Clark said.
Judges for the competition will evaluate vehicles for greenhouse gas impact, fuel economy, exhaust emissions, acceleration, off-road performance, consumer acceptability and safety.
The project gives students the opportunity to develop marketable skills and work as a team, Clark said. Students from the Graduate Automotive Technology Education program at WVU are assisting the Future Truck team on the project.
“Many of our students land high-paying jobs in the automotive industry through their association with the FutureTruck program, and knowing how to work as part of a team will determine their career success,”he said.
WVU FutureTruck team members participating in Michigan are Tom Buffamonte of East Amherst, N.Y.; Jason Cheslock and Csaba Toth-Nagy, both of Morgantown; Jason Conley of Bridgeport; Doug Fig of Jackson, N.J.; Ken Lynch-Warntz of Mount Airy, Md.; Axel Raedermacher of Harpers Ferry; and Sam Taylor of Fenwick. They are all mechanical and aerospace engineering students in the College of Engineering and Mineral Resources.
Other schools competing are 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 and Virginia Tech.
Information about Future Truck is available on the web athttp://www.futuretruck.org/.