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National Engineering Challenge X Won By Clean Diesel Technology Forum
By Anthony Fontanelle
At the recent national engineering competition popularly known as the Challenge X, clean diesel technology has stood out among the competing entries for this year's event. The top three winning vehicles and 12 of 17 entries overall were power-driven by the clean diesel technology, giving them the pleasure to design the car parts of green cars of the future.
"Today we have a glimpse of the leading technologies that will power our future cars, trucks and SUVs, and it's no surprise that the winner was a clean diesel engine running on renewable biofuels, coupled with a hybrid powertrain. Challenge X demonstrates that, thanks to its energy efficiency and low CO2 emissions, clean diesel will play a far greater role in reducing our dependence on foreign oil and reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the years ahead. Over the next 16 months, more than a dozen new clean diesel vehicles will be available to consumers," says Allen Schaeffer, executive director of the Diesel Technology Forum.
The Diesel Technology Forum is a non-profit organization committed to bringing in consciousness about the economic significance and environmental development of diesel engines and equipment. Members of
the Forum embody the three components of the modern clean diesel system: advanced engines, cleaner diesel fuel and effective emissions control systems.
TheAutoCahnnel.com reported that seventeen universities fielded engineering groups to design a car that runs on lesser quantities of fuel made from alternative resources. Every team reorganized a Chevrolet Equinox sport utility vehicle with the use of hybrid, plug-in or fuel cell technology and alternative fuels sources that includes biodiesel, ethanol and hydrogen. There were twelve teams who made use of diesel as part of their technology solution that brought out outstanding results for the development of the hybrid cars along with great car parts in the future..
Among the major companies that sponsored the event is the General Motors, the U.S. Department of Energy and other pro-hybrid groups across the country. Clean diesel technology was awarded last May 20, 2008 at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C. The initiative of the competition is to prepare the new breed of smart engineers fascinated in discovering innovative ideas especially cleaner, more efficient, less expensive vehicles.
Furthermore, diesel cars, trucks and SUVs offer greater mileage with 20 to 40 percent and produce 10 to 20 percent lesser unwanted greenhouse gases than similar gasoline vehicles. In addition to better fuel economy and lessen emissions, American drivers who acquire cleaner-burning diesel cars, trucks and SUVs are qualified for similar tax enticements as buyers of gasoline-hybrid electric vehicles.
Anthony Fontanelle is a 35-year-old automotive buff who grew up in the Windy City. He does freelance work for an automotive magazine when he is not busy customizing cars in his shop.
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