With gas prices high and vehicle emissions a pressing concern, the need for fuel-efficient and environmentally friendly vehicles is critical.

West Virginia University engineering students are doing their part to help design cars of the future as they gear up for the next big collegiate competition in alternative vehicle design.

EcoCAR: The NeXt Challenge is a national three-year collegiate competition sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy , Argonne National Labs and General Motors . Its purpose is to give students hands-on experience designing vehicles to be more fuel-efficient, with reduced greenhouse-gas emissions, while maintaining performance and reliability.

This spring, the competitions judges accepted proposals from universities around the nation. Of the 65 proposals submitted, WVU s proposal was among 17 accepted and was ranked fourth in the group, said Scott Wayne , professor of mechanical engineering and team adviser.

WVU has a long history of doing well in national alternative vehicle competitions, Wayne said. That includes placing in the top 10 for three years running in the Department of Energys previous competition, Challenge X, which ended this year.

Competitions like Challenge X and EcoCAR provide unique opportunities for our students to get involved in a complex, hands-on project and to gain valuable experience outside of the classroom,he said.They also allow students to make valuable industry contacts. Several of our graduates who were involved in these competitions have gone on to excellent positions with GM and other manufacturers.

WVU s EcoCAR team is composed mainly of mechanical and aerospace engineering majors, along with students from computer science and electrical engineering. Over the next three years, the team will convert a stock 2009 Saturn Vue crossover sport utility vehicle into an advanced-technology hybrid vehicle that is more economical to operate and more environmentally friendly.

In the first year of the competition, students will explore different design options with the use of special software. In the second year, the team will receive a vehicle from GM and begin integrating new parts, testing emissions and fuel efficiency, and making structural changes. The third and final year will be devoted to making additional improvements, working on appeal and marketability, and getting the vehicle ready for production.

Each year, EcoCAR officials will judge the team on its progress and how well it has met its goals for that year.

Members of WVU s team are Chris Bell, David Kirby, Nathan Music and Andrew Shultz, all of Morgantown; Garrett Broberg, Canonsburg, Pa.; Russell Buberniak, Grindstone, Pa.; Ryan Burda, Bridgeville, Pa.; Jared Clark, Harpers Ferry; Stephen Clark, Annapolis, Md.; Andrew Eidnier, Solon, Ohio; Rehan Ehsan, Sterling, Va.; Adam Gernerd, Perkasie, Pa.; Matthew Grahek, OFallon, Ill.; Matthew Haight, Shelton, Conn.; Ariel Hall, Matewan; Jason Ice, Spencer; Chris Junge, Dunkirk, Md.; Patrick Mancini, Bristow, Va.; John Morrison, Bury, England; Calvin Richards, Parkersburg; Ross Ryskamp, Woodbridge, Va.; Adam Sayres, Flemington; Eric Spiroff, Fort Ashby; Charles Thomas, Barboursville; Joe Waddell, Townville, Pa.; Luke Williamson, St. Leonard, Md.; Andrew Yablonski, Six Mile Run, Pa.; Kurt Yankolonis, Sparks, Md.; and Zhenhua Zhu, Jiangxi, China.

More on the Net: www.ecocarchallenge.org