Challenge X: GM and DOE

13 May 2004

Here is a description of the contest I mentioned below in the post about the biodiesel hybrid: Challenge X.

Seventeen North American universities were selected through a competitive process to participate in CHALLENGE X: Michigan Technological University; Mississippi State University; Ohio State University; Pennsylvania State University; Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology; San Diego State University; Texas Tech University; University of Akron; University of California, Davis; University of Michigan, Ann Arbor and Dearborn; University of Tennessee; University of Texas at Austin; University of Tulsa; University of Waterloo (Canada); University of Wisconsin-Madison; Virginia Tech; and West Virginia University.

DOE, through its Argonne National Laboratory facility, will provide competition management, staffing, team evaluation, and technical and logistical support. GM will supply each team with a compact SUV Chevrolet Equinox, $10,000 in seed money, technical mentoring, and additional production parts. Other major funding, mentoring, and product donations will be provided by National Instruments, The Math Works and Natural Resources Canada. The Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Transportation will provide expertise in emissions measurement, CAFÉ (Corporate Average Fuel Economy) standards, and safety. Other sponsors include the National Science Foundation, Delphi, Dana Corporation, Ballard Power Systems, the Renewable Fuels Associations, the Governors Ethanol Coalition and Ricardo.