Engineering Students Develop Skills To Propel “Green”Vehicles Into Ne xt Decade And Beyond (NAPSA) — Challenge X, a multi- career,” said David Oglesby, stu- ing students gain valuable train- Year Three competition in 2007. “It’s a unique program that pro- dent team leader of Mississippi State University, which won the year collegiate vehicle competition sponsored by General Motors and the U.S. Departmentof Energy, is helping and is providing the industry with experienced engineers who are ready to develop the “green” vehicle technologies needed today — and tomorrow. As the automotive industryis focusing more and more on the developmentof alternative vehicle technologies such as hybrids and fuel cells, new engineers will be needed to develop these innovative engine technologies. Challenge X provides 17 university teams from across North America with real-world vehicle engineering experience. The teams follow the GM global vehicle development process to create technologies that increase energy efficiency and reduce environmen- vided me with hands-on training that will give me an advantage in the job market.” Mississippi State University’s Challenge X vehicle, which won the program’s Year Three competition in 2007, cruises on a test track. tal impact. Each team hasre-engi- neered a Chevy Equinox with a range of hybrid, plug-in or fuel cell propulsion systems, powered by alternative fuels such as biodiesel, ethanol and hydrogen. Since the competition began in 2004, GM has hired more than 50 students from the program. “Challenge X has prepared me for an exciting automotive Partidpating Schools Michigan Technological University Mississippi State University Ohio State University Pennsylvania State University Rose-HulmanInstitute of Technology San Diego State University Texas Tech University University of Akron University of California — Davis University of Michigan University of Tennessee University of Texas at Austin University of Tulsa University of Waterloo University of Wisconsin — Madison Virginia Tech West Virginia University Cindy Svestka, GM powertrain engineering manager and Challenge X graduate, also has praise for the program. “When wehire a Challenge X student, we know that we are getting a top-notch engineer with great experience and strong knowledge of our vehicle development process,” she said. “It’s a win-win for both the student and the automaker.” Ed Wall, the U.S. Department of Energy’s manager of the Vehicle Technologies Program, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renew- able Energy, hopes the competition will create greater aware- ness of alternative fuels. “This competition focuses on advanced technology that promotes energy security and economic growth,” he said. “Challenge X demon- strates how government, industry and academia are working together to develop creative approaches and solutions to decreasing energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions in some of America’s most popular vehicles.” Additional information is available on the Web at www. challengex.org.
