MTU TEAM TAKES TWO AWARDS AT FUTURE TRUCK
See the FutureTruck video package, available on the Web. While Michigan Tech did not finish in the top six, the team did take two special awards. Tech earned the award for "best use of advanced technology," which went to the team incorporating the best mix of advanced technology. The team also was cited with the "Spirit of the Challenge" award, which recognized perseverence in the face of adversity. Why Arizona (Mesa, to be exact)? That's the location of the desert proving grounds for FutureTruck sponsor General Motors. Each FutureTruck 2000 team received a Chevrolet Suburban and $10,000 in seed money last September. Teams designed and built different powertrains, combining electric propulsion with another fuel source (such as ethanol, gasoline, diesel, or hydrogen). The goal of the competition is to increase fuel economy and reduce emissions without compromising safety, convenience and performance. Michigan Tech is the only Michigan school chosen to compete in FutureTruck. "Our goal for the first year is to increase the fuel economy by 50 percent," said Michigan Tech team leader Aaron Thul. "So the Suburban would get 25 miles per gallon on the highway and 20 miles per gallon in the city." Team members said the biggest challenge was the sheer size of the vehicle and maintaining the ability to tow a 7,000 pound trailer up a hill in the Arizona desert. The timing -- and the move to improve fuel economy -- couldn't have been better, as the competition coincided with the early summer run-up of gasoline prices, which cleared $2.00 per gallon in some areas of the country. Michigan Tech participated in FutureTruck's predecessor, FutureCar, for four years, placing 3rd of 15 entrants the final year, and winning the "best sportsmanship" award three years running. After their week of competition, the Michigan Tech team will bring their FutureTruck home and work out the bugs for another year. In June 2001, the FutureTruck teams will reassemble for another week of competition. FutureTruck 2000 is sponsored by General Motors and the U.S. Department of Energy. Broadcasts of a portion of the competition and the final results are available on the Web at www.futuretruck.org. Michigan Tech has a video package about its FutureTruck team available at http://www.mtu.edu/level4/temp/futuretruck.htm
HOUGHTON MI -- After nine months of hard work, Michigan Tech's FutureTruck team took their show to the Arizona desert, where they competed against 14 other teams and the 100-plus degree heat.