"2nd Ethanol Vehicle Challenge a Winner"
By The Governors Ethanol Coalition

More than 200 students from 14 automotive engineering colleges and universities participated in the 1999 Ethanol Vehicle Challenge, a program designed to advance automotive technology utilizing fuel ethanol.  This year's Challenge was to optimize a stock Chevrolet Silverado 4x4 pickup truck to run on E85, a blend of 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent unleaded gasoline.

General Motors Proving Ground in Milford, Michigan served as the site of the competition events, in which the teams were judged on fuel economy, exhaust emissions, cold start performance, engine performance, acceleration and driveability.  The teams then embarked upon a 600-mile road rally through Michigan, Indiana and Illinois, with the final destination of Springfield, Illinois where teams were presented with the competition awards. 

The vehicles of all of the top five teams met low emission vehicle standards.  Many of the entrants produced ethanol powered vehicles that surpassed the on-road performance of standard gasoline version.  More than $21,000 was awarded in cash prizes to the following top finishing schools:

1st Place
 University of Illinois - Chicago		 Best Flame Arrestor Design
 University of Illinois - Chicago
2nd Place
 University of Texas - El Paso 		Best Fuel Economy
 University of Illinois - Chicago
3rd Place
 Kettering University - Michigan		 Best Cold-Start Performance
 University of Texas - El Paso
4th Place
 University of Waterloo - Ontario		 Best Oral Presentation
 University of Waterloo - Ontario
5th Place
 Wayne State University - Michigan		 Best Hill Climb Performance
 Minnesota State University
Lowest Emissions
 Wayne State University - Michigan		 Best Off-Road Handling
 Kettering University
Best Ethanol Conversion
 University of Nebraska - Lincoln		 Best Acceleration
 Cedarville College - Ohio
Best Engine-Out Emissions
 University of Waterloo - Ontario		 Most Innovative Component
 University of Nebraska - Lincoln
Best Appearing Vehicle
 Minnesota State University		 Simon Vega Award
 University of Idaho
Spirit of the Challenge
 University of Kansas

Professor Charles Allport, Cedarville College, and Dr. Ryan Wicker, University of Texas at El Paso, received the Outstanding Faculty Award, courtesy of the Governors' Ethanol Coalition.  Each faculty advisory received $10,000 in honor of their outstanding leadership and direction in the organization and management of their student team.

This is the second year the schools have participated in the Ethanol Vehicle Challenge, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy, General Motors, Natural Resources Canada, the GEC, the ethanol industry, corn growers and many others.  Last year's challenge involved the Chevrolet Malibu, and students successfully reduced tailpipe emissions, improved fuel economy and enhanced the performance by optimizing the engine to operate on E85.

During the Challenge opening ceremony, Tom Stevens, General Motor' Vice President and Group Director, Engineering, Truck Group, announced that GM will release flexible fuel E85 Chevrolet S10 and GMC Sonoma pickups during the 2000 model year.