OSU STUDENTS INVITED TO JOIN FUTURETRUCK 2000 COMPETITION

   COLUMBUS -- The Ohio State University is among 13 schools selected to participate in a national competition to modify sport-utility vehicle (SUV) designs in an effort to improve fuel economy and emissions for the popular passenger vehicles.

   The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) invited the universities to join the “FutureTruck 2000” contest following a formal proposal competition.

   Ohio State’s proposal is based on a four-wheel drive, hybrid-electric drivetrain employing a common-rail direct-injection diesel engine coupled to two electric motor/generators and a continuously variable transmission.

   The student-designed hybrid SUV is expected to:
-- permit electric launch (the ability to start and accelerate the vehicle using only electric power, with significant exhaust emissions benefits);
-- double the fuel economy in comparison to the equivalent current-production model;
-- employ braking energy regeneration;
-- make use of advanced composite materials for lightweight construction; and
-- employ smart, adaptive powertrain control and electronic trip information equipment to help improve energy economy under real-world conditions.

   The proposal was the result of a final project assignment in a new Ohio State course developed as part of a DOE-funded Graduate Automotive Technology Education Center of Excellence. The center recently was established with the support of the Center for Automotive Research, the departments of Electrical and Mechanical Engineering, and the College of Engineering.

   The project will be completed using the College of Engineering Student Projects facilities and with the support of the Center for Automotive Research, both located at 930 Kinnear Road.

   The other schools selected to participate in the competition are: Pennsylvania State, Cornell, West Virginia, Concordia and Michigan Technological universities; the universities of Wisconsin, Maryland, Idaho, Tennessee and California, Davis; Virginia Tech; and Texas Tech.

Contact: Giorgio Rizzoni, Mechanical Engineering, (614) 292-3331

For more information about the Center for Automotive Research, visit its Web site at http://car.eng.ohio-state.edu/