EVLN(WU's 1st place bio-diesel hybrid FutureTruck SUV)

[Bruce EVangel Parmenter <brucedp@yahoo.com>]

EVLN(WU's 1st place bio-diesel hybrid FutureTruck SUV)
[The Internet Electric Vehicle List News. For Public EV
 informational purposes. Contact publication for reprint rights.]
 --- {EVangel}
University of Wisconsin Students Win Competition to Improve
SUV Fuel Economy and Lower Emissions

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif., June 24 /PRNewswire/ -- With a
bio-diesel hybrid electric advanced technology system, a
team of students from the University of Wisconsin-Madison
successfully managed to increase fuel efficiency and reduce
greenhouse gas emissions on a base 2002 Ford Explorer
without sacrificing performance or safety to win this year's
FutureTruck challenge.  The competition attracted 15 teams
from top universities across North America. The second place
hybrid electric vehicle, from Michigan Tech University, ran
on reformulated gasoline.

FutureTruck's goal is to lower emissions and achieve a 25
percent increase in over-the-road fuel economy of SUVs while
maintaining the safety, performance and comfort levels that
have made them so popular.  The first place team succeeded
in reducing the greenhouse gas index by 50 percent and
increasing over-the-road fuel economy by 45 percent.  The
team reengineered components and used advanced materials
such as an aluminum/steel hybrid frame and a titanium
exhaust system.  Seven out of ten teams achieved better
overall over-the-road fuel economy compared to the base 2002
Ford Explorer and two teams managed to exceed the base
Explorers performance, while still applying environmentally
sound applications.

"This was such a challenging endeavor to undertake, but it
is rewarding to participate and receive recognition," said
Dr. Glenn Bower, University of Wisconsin advisor.  He added,
"We've worked hard, tackled obstacles and in the end we
succeeded above and beyond our goals."

FutureTruck judging began June 11, 2002 at the Ford Motor
Company Proving Ground in Yucca, Arizona and concluded at
the California Motor Speedway in Fontana, California on June
21, 2002.  Teams competed in twelve rigorous events that
measured all aspects of the vehicles including: safety,
performance, consumer acceptability and design evaluation.
The FutureTruck awards ceremony was held at the Regent
Beverly Wilshire hotel over the weekend.

"FutureTruck's goals parallel Ford's commitment to
increasing the fuel economy of our vehicles, and what better
way to discover innovative technologies then by facilitating
the growth of tomorrow's engineering talent," said Bob
Himes, Director of Engineering for Ford Motor Company.

The FutureTruck competition brings together government,
industry and academia to explore clean, fuel-efficient
automotive technologies.  Ford Motor Company and the U.S.
Department of Energy were the title sponsors for 2002. Ford
will continue its commitment to FutureTruck and the 2003
competition will be part of the 100th Anniversary of Ford
Motor Company taking place in Dearborn, Michigan at Ford
headquarters.

"I congratulate all of the universities, team members,
faculty and staff who embraced the FutureTruck challenge to
explore clean, fuel-efficient automotive technologies which
help reduce petroleum usage and CO2 emissions," said Tom
Gross, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Transportation
Technologies at the U.S. Department of Energy.  "I also want
to thank Ford Motor Company for its support to make this
project a success."

Other major sponsors included the National Science
Foundation, Cisco Systems, ArvinMeritor, Delphi, National
Instruments, Natural Resources Canada, The MathWorks, The
Aluminum Association, California Air Resources Board,
Illinois Department of Commerce and Community Affairs;
Wisconsin Soybean Association; Renewable Fuels Association;
Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company; Ricardo Inc.; and BP.

Competing universities in the FutureTruck 2002 competition
were: California Polytechnic State University, San Louis
Obispo; Cornell University; Georgia Institute of Technology;
Michigan Technological University; Ohio State University;
Pennsylvania State University; Texas Tech University;
University of Alberta; University of California, Davis;
University of Idaho; University of Maryland; University of
Tennessee; University of Wisconsin-Madison; Virginia Tech;
and West Virginia University.

Additional information about FutureTruck is available on the
Web at http://www.futuretruck.org .

SOURCE  FutureTruck CO:  FutureTruck; Ford Motor Company;
University of Wisconsin-Madison ST:  California, Wisconsin,
Michigan SU:  AWD http://www.prnewswire.com 06/24/2002 11:55
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