Mississippi Students Win Challenge X

Mississippi State University recently took top honors at the third annual Challenge X: Crossover to Sustainable Mobility engineering competition. The team was among 17 universities that have re-engineered a 2005 Chevrolet Equinox crossover SUV using advanced propulsion technologies that increase fuel efficiency and reduce environmental impact, yet retain its consumer appeal. The team designed a through-the-road parallel hybrid electric vehicle with a 1.9-liter GM direct injection turbo diesel engine fueled by B20 biodiesel. It achieved a 48% increase in fuel economy over the production vehicle.

The Department of Energy (DOE) and General Motors (GM) are the lead sponsors of the competition. Other sponsors include BP; Sensors Inc.; Cobasys; Chevron; Johnson Controls-SAFT Advanced Power Solutions; Ballard Power Systems Inc.; Hydrogenics Corp.; Caterpillar Inc.; Natural Resources Canada; Michelin North America; Renewable Fuels Association; Vector CANtech Inc.; Intrepid Control Systems Inc.; National Instruments; AVL Powertrain Engin-eering Inc.; Freescale Semiconductor; National Science Foundation; U.S. Department of Transportation; U.S. Environmental Protection Agency; The MathWorks; MotoTron Corp.; UGS; XM Radio and OnStar.