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Akron U. Engineering Students Tapped by GM, Energy Department"
AKRON, Ohio --The University of Akron College of Engineering has been picked by the U.S. Department of Energy and General Motors Corp. as one of 17 university teams to work intensely on cutting the nation's reliance on petroleum for transportation while reducing pollution.The three-year, student engineering competition calls for the teams to re-engineer a production model compact sport-utility vehicle to reduce energy consumption sharply and decrease the emissions of pollutants while maintaining its performance.Teams participating in the Challenge X: Crossover to Sustainable Mobility competition were announced recently in conjunction with the Society of Automotive Engineers Government and Industry Conference in Washington, D.C. The teams were selected through a competitive proposal process in 2003, earning the opportunity to participate in hands-on research and development with leading-edge automotive propulsion systems and emission-control technologies, fuels and materials."This is the first time that a student competition has emphasized the importance of fuel choice in achieving sustainable mobility," says Tom Stephens, group vice president for GM's Powertrain Division. "Challenge X provides the student teams an opportunity to take an open-minded well-to-wheels approach to all the issues involved in energy efficiency and emissions including the fuel source, the propulsion system and the vehicle's real world utility and consumer appeal."Graduate and undergraduate students and faculty at UA will model, design and simulate improvements, install and then work to optimize the improvements. The teams will work with Chevrolet Equinox SUVs. "Challenge X will give our students the opportunity to work together in a competitive situation, while extending their knowledge in a field that has global implications," says Dr. George K. Haritos, dean of the College of Engineering. "We will draw on the knowledge and talents from students in all areas of engineering, and from students from other disciplines, such as marketing from the College of Business Administration."In addition to the University of Akron, other higher education institutions selected for the competition include Michigan Technological University, Mississippi State University, The Ohio State University, Pennsylvania State University, Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, San Diego State University, Texas Tech University, University of California, Davis, University of Michigan, University of Tennessee, University of Texas at Austin, University of Tulsa, University of Waterloo, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Virginia Tech and West Virginia University.The University of Akron College of Engineering has demonstrated the abilities of its students through numerous engineering competitions. UA student engineers have competed in and won competitions in Formula-style race cars, radio-controlled cargo aircraft, steel bridges, innovative energy systems, concrete canoes, alternative energy vehicles, Baja-style race cars and high-mileage vehicles. An example of UA students' success is that the SAE design team has won more competitions than any other Ohio school over the past 12 years."Being chosen as a design team for Challenge X is another acknowledgement of the excellence of our College of Engineering," says UA president Luis M. Proenza. "We are proud that the success of our students and the excellence of our program once again are being recognized beyond our campus in a competition that holds such hopeful outcomes for our society." Dr. Iqbal Husain, professor of electrical and computer engineering, Dr. Jon Gerhardt, an adjunct professor of design in the mechanical engineering department, and Dr. Richard Gross, retired associate professor of mechanical engineering, will lead the UA effort in Challenge X.Visit The University of Akron: www.uakron.edu"