Ethanol Vehicle Challenge Results

ETHANOL VEHICLE CHALLENGE RESULTS
"Corny" Silverados Take the Spotlight in Canada
By Ellen Klupfel, Public Information Coordinator, Canadian Renewable Fuels Association

and an environmentally friendly fuel, full-sized pick-up trucks can be an environmentally responsible alternative.

"This challenge taps into the innovation and ambition of the next generation of engineers to create new technologies that meet our environmental and economic goals. I'm particularly pleased that the University of Waterloo captured second place in such a prestigious competition," said Ralph Goodale, Minister of Natural Resources Canada. "All the students who participated in this competition deserve full credit for their enormous amount of work and dedication."

Sixteen student teams from across North America participated in the Ethanol Vehicle Challenge (EVC) 2000 with Silverado trucks optimized to operate on E85, an environmentally-friendly blend of 85 per cent ethanol and 15 per cent gasoline. This is the first time in the event's three-year history that it has taken place entirely in Canada.

The modified trucks were judged on emissions, fuel economy, cold-start capabilities, power, design strategy and handling, with the goal of producing the most efficient, lowest-emission, best-performing vehicle. The results of the competition underlined how contestants can achieve performance, fuel efficiency and environmental improvement through innovative engineering and by using a high-level blend of corn-based ethanol.

"The results of the EVC clearly demonstrate that is possible to significantly reduce vehicle emissions without sacrificing fuel efficiency or performance," said Jim Johnson, President of the Canadian Renewable Fuels Association (CRFA). "This is a tribute to the student engineers and the potential of fuel ethanol."

The team of students from the University of Texas at Austin won first place overall in the EVC 2000, taking home $6,000 (US) in prize money. The winning team's truck received the highest score in this seven-day competition along a route between Ottawa and Windsor, Ontario. Second place overall went to the Canadian team from the University of Waterloo, while the University of California, Riverside, captured third place. Waterloo also took top prizes for best ethanol conversion and best fuel economy. Two other Canadian teams, from the University of Windsor/St. Clair College and the University of Alberta at Edmonton, took part in the competition for the first time this year, with demonstration vehicles.

For the first time in the history of the EVC, the ultra-low emission standard was broken by one of the competing schools, the University of Illinois at Chicago. Their achievement demonstrates that with some modifications

The EVC is a cooperative effort of governments, the auto, ethanol, agricultural and petroleum industries, and the academic world, to bring environmentally friendly vehicle technologies to the marketplace. Natural Resources Canada, General Motors of Canada, Environment Canada, CRFA, OCPA, UPI Inc., Commercial Alcohols Inc., the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, Petro-Canada and Iogen Corporation were among the Canadian sponsors of the EVC and the teams.


				and an environmentally friendly fuel, full-sized pick-up trucks can be an environmentally responsible alternative. "This challenge taps into the innovation and ambition of the next generation of engineers to create new technologies that meet our environmental and economic goals. I'm particularly pleased that the University of Waterloo captured second place in such a prestigious competition," said Ralph Goodale, Minister of Natural Resources Canada. "All the students who participated in this competition deserve full credit for their enormous amount of work and dedication."
		Sixteen student teams from across North America participated in the Ethanol Vehicle Challenge (EVC) 2000 with Silverado trucks optimized to operate on E85, an environmentally-friendly blend of 85 per cent ethanol and 15 per cent gasoline. This is the first time in the event's three-year history that it has taken place entirely in Canada. The modified trucks were judged on emissions, fuel economy, cold-start capabilities, power, design strategy and handling, with the goal of producing the most efficient, lowest-emission, best-performing vehicle. The results of the competition underlined how contestants can achieve performance, fuel efficiency and environmental improvement through innovative engineering and by using a high-level blend of corn-based ethanol. "The results of the EVC clearly demonstrate that is possible to significantly reduce vehicle emissions without sacrificing fuel efficiency or performance," said Jim Johnson, President of the Canadian Renewable Fuels Association (CRFA). "This is a tribute to the student engineers and the potential of fuel ethanol." The team of students from the University of Texas at Austin won first place overall in the EVC 2000, taking home $6,000 (US) in prize money. The winning team's truck received the highest score in this seven-day competition along a route between Ottawa and Windsor, Ontario. Second place overall went to the Canadian team from the University of Waterloo, while the University of California, Riverside, captured third place. Waterloo also took top prizes for best ethanol conversion and best fuel economy. Two other Canadian teams, from the University of Windsor/St. Clair College and the University of Alberta at Edmonton, took part in the competition for the first time this year, with demonstration vehicles. For the first time in the history of the EVC, the ultra-low emission standard was broken by one of the competing schools, the University of Illinois at Chicago. Their achievement demonstrates that with some modifications
				The EVC is a cooperative effort of governments, the auto, ethanol, agricultural and petroleum industries, and the academic world, to bring environmentally friendly vehicle technologies to the marketplace. Natural Resources Canada, General Motors of Canada, Environment Canada, CRFA, OCPA, UPI Inc., Commercial Alcohols Inc., the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, Petro-Canada and Iogen Corporation were among the Canadian sponsors of the EVC and the teams.