FutureTruck Finishes First in Two Categories; Third Overall

Professor David Holloway and the University of Maryland team received top honors in FutureTruck 2001 competition held in Milford, Michigan this week. Out of 15 teams competing, the UM team won first place in Best Regulated Emissions, first place in Trailer Towing Capability, and third place Overall.

Judged in eight different categories including On-Road Energy Efficiency, Greenhouse Gas Impact, Exhaust Emissions, Acceleration, Trailer Towing Capability, Engineering Design, Consumer Acceptability, and Cost/Manufacturability. By achieving the maximum number of points in Best Regulated Emissions, the UM team won top honors in the stringent bracket known as SULEV (Super Ultra Low Emission Vehicle).

FutureTruck is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy, General Motors Corporation and Yahoo! Inc. Fifteen universities from across North America were selected to participate in this competition. Each university team starts with a model-year 2000 Chevrolet Suburban SUV and ten thousand dollars in "seed" money donated by General Motors.

The primary objective of each team is to modify the existing powertrain to increase the fuel economy (energy efficiency) as measured by the total greenhouse gas impact of the vehicle without compromising the safety, convenience and performance consumers expect in this type of vehicle.

FutureTruck also aims to create a valuable pool of future engineers with hands-on experience in advanced vehicle technologies.

Judging for FutureTruck took place at the General Motors Milford Proving Ground in Milford, Michigan from June 4 to June 11, 2001. Industry experts, government officials and scientists and members of the automotive media were involved in judging the vehicles. Following the events in Michigan, competition vehicles moved to Washington, DC for a morning finish line ceremony at the U.S. Department of Energy headquarters, an afternoon display at the U.S. Capitol Building, and an evening awards ceremony at the Smithsonian Museum. All Washington events took place Wednesday, June 13, 2001.

For their efforts this year, the University of Maryland team received $6,000 in award money.

Published June 14, 2001