A team of Penn State students placed fifth overall at the 2006 component of “Challenge X: Crossover to Sustainable Mobility” advanced vehicle technology competition earlier this month.

The groundbreaking, three-year competition gives engineering schools an opportunity to participate in hands-on research and development with leading-edge automotive propulsion, fuels, materials, and emissions-control technologies.

Penn State's 2006-2007 Challenge X entry was a low-emissions, diesel-hydrogen Chevrolet Equinox. Designed to draw on Penn State's experience working with diesel engines and merge them with the future of alternative fuels, the vehicle burns a combination of biodiesel and hydrogen in its high-efficiency GM diesel engine.

Like Penn State’s 2002 "Wattmuncher" vehicle, its Challenge X Equinox is a versatile parallel hybrid; its diesel engine can both turn the wheels directly or turn the electric generator the charges the vehicle's lithium-ion batteries.

The Penn State team was partially sponsored by an $83,065 grant from the state Alternative Fuels Incentive Grants program administered by the Department of Environmental Protection.

The 2006 competition was held earlier this month at General Motors' Mesa, Az., Desert Proving Grounds. Record-high temperatures – above 100 degrees every day, with tarmac temperatures exceeding 150 degrees -- placed a severe strain on all of the vehicles, reports PSU faculty sponsor Daniel C. Haworth, a professor of mechanical engineering.

Despite the heat, the Penn State team competed in and successfully completed every event. In addition to the fifth-place overall finish, Penn State took third place in the Freescale Semiconductor Award (best design and use of microprocessor hardware and software) and was one of six teams selected to participate in the Media Day Ride-and-Drive Event, based on the team’s innovative powertrain design and robust vehicle operation.

The three years of Challenge X are designed to follow a realistic vehicle development process. The first year (2005) emphasized modeling, simulation, and technical reports: There was no vehicle. The second year (this year) emphasized a "mule" vehicle with functioning hybrid powertrain, and agreement between predicted and actual vehicle performance. The final year (2007) will emphasize powertrain refinements and consumer acceptability.

While many students contributed through the year, those who attended this year's competition were Gary Neal (faculty advisor), Eric Reischer (technical advisor), Matt Shirk (team leader), Brian Herrold, Justin Ellis, Tim Cleary, Joe Becker, Jeremy Jones, Ari Giovagnoli, Joe Rochinski, and Nick Trotta.

For more information, visit the Penn State Challenge X team website.

6/16/2006