Ohio State College of Engineering students improving the efficiency and emissions of an SUV are embarking on the final leg of a national four-year competition that will conclude in the nation’s capitol.
On May 13, members of the Challenge X student team will begin a road trip from New York to Washington, D.C., in the ultimate test of their gas-turned-hybrid SUV. The grueling trial will take eight days, finishing on May 21.
Challenge X is one of a series of competitions held by the U.S. Department of Energy to improve energy efficiency in cars. Only 17 teams were selected to participate in the four-year competition, which involves the re-engineering of a Chevy Equinox, a crossover sport utility vehicle, to make it more environmentally-friendly yet still attractive for consumers. The teams must minimize energy consumption, emissions, and greenhouse gases while maintaining or exceeding the vehicle’s utility and performance.
Nicknamed “The Ohio State Reverb” by team members, this SUV is now a shadow of its former gas-guzzling self. Ohio State team members have spent the past four years designing energy-efficient ways to improve the car, replacing the standard engine and transmission with a GM 1.9-liter turbodiesel and a six-speed automatic transmission. The rear axle is powered by an electric drive and uses battery packs like those found in a Toyota Prius hybrid for power.
The May 13-21 competition includes the following events:
May 13-14: Vehicle tests for safety, technology, acceleration, drive quality and emissions at the New Jersey Motorsports Speedway in Millville, N.J.
May 15, Road Rally begins, from Millville, N.J., to NYC, with media events May 15 and 16
May 17: vehicles will be displayed at the Maryland Science Center at the Baltimore Inner Harbor
May 18: Road Rally to Washington, D.C.
May 19-20: static events, visits with congressional members and congressional ride and drive
May 21: Parade escort to the Capitol, with more congressional ride and drives, and final display at U.S. Department of Energy headquarters. The final competition results will be announced here.
The Ohio State team already has won a number of awards for the vehicle’s performance. Placing third overall in 2005, the team went on to first place in the towing and Mathworks modeling categories in 2006; last year the team hit top scores in consumer acceptability and noise levels. The team placed fourth overall in 2006 and 2007.
“We expect to show improvement in our vehicle’s performance since the last competition,” says John Kruckenberg, a junior in electrical engineering.
Team co-leader Eric Schacht is even more enthusiastic about the team’s chances to take home first place: “We are The Ohio State University, which means we will be No. 1 of course!”
For more information, check out the Ohio State Challenge X team’s Web site, www.osuchallengex.com.
