Competition Innovations

Through the years, innovations, advancements and research projects have resulted from competitions.

From Challenge X 2007

Left: Mississippi State University on the road during the on-road fuel economy event.
Center: Forrest Jehlik and the University of Wisconsin-Madison preparing for an on-road fuel economy event.
Right: Pennsylvania State University on the road during the on-road fuel economy event.

• Fuel Economy. Mississippi State increased their fuel economy by 48% using a biodiesel fueled parallel hybrid. Eleven teams improved the fuel economy by 3 to 40% as compared of the production vehicle (Equinox).


• Performance. Mississippi State demonstrated a 0-60 mph acceleration time of 7.65 seconds, 2.3 seconds faster than production. Five teams increased both performance and fuel economy.


• Well-to-Wheels Petroleum Energy Reduction. Mississippi State achieved a 40% reduction in well-to-wheel petroleum energy usage. Virginia Tech reduced their petroleum use by 77% with their E85 hybrid electric vehicle design. Overall, fifteen of the teams reduced petroleum energy use.


• Well-to-wheels GHG Emissions Reduction. Thirteen teams reduced greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Mississippi State reduced their GHG emissions by 43% compared to the production vehicle. U. Wisconsin-Madison reduced their emissions by 52% in their biodiesel hybrid.


• NO_X Emissions Reduction. Penn State achieved 0.06 g/mi NO_X emissions using a downsized 1.3L B20 powered diesel engine and a urea ejection system.

From Past Competitions

• In FutureTruck 2004, all 15 vehicles passed technical inspections and participated in dynamic events while operating in hybrid mode – a FutureTruck first! Six teams surpassed the on-road fuel economy of the control vehicle (2002 Explorer). The University of Wisconsin-Madison achieved 25.0 miles per gallon gasoline equivalent – a 33% improvement over the control vehicle. Ten teams had better greenhouse gas emissions than the control Ford Explorer with the greatest reduction in greenhouse gas emissions belonging to the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a 50% reduction.


• In FutureTruck 2003, eight teams surpassed the on-road fuel economy of the control vehicle (2002 Explorer). The University of Wisconsin - Madison, achieved 21.2 miles per gallon gasoline equivalent - a 35% improvement over the control vehicle. The greenhouse gas emissions of eight student vehicles were less than those of the control vehicle, with West Virginia University reducing GHG emissions by an incredible 48%.


• In FutureTruck 2002, seven out of 11 teams obtained better fuel economy than the control vehicle (2002 Explorer). Three of the modified Ford Explorers qualified as an Ultra Low Emissions Vehicle during emissions testing.


• In FutureTruck 2001, Cornell University, running E85, achieved the lowest GHG Index: 428.95 g/mile (CO2 equivalent) compared with the stock vehicle's result of 797.2 g/mi. Seven of the ten vehicles showed better GHG results than the stock vehicle.


• In FutureTruck 2000, a 13% improvement was attained in on-road fuel efficiency (MPGE), and a 26% reduction was attained in greenhouse gas emissions, compared with the stock Chevrolet Suburban.


• In Ethanol Vehicle Challenge 2000, the winning vehicle in the emissions event (University of Illinois at Chicago) met the California Air Resources Board ultra-low emissions vehicle standard - one of the toughest in the world.


• Northwestern University developed a gas quality sensor, Old Dominion University developed a gaseous fuel injector that is now an OEM component, and other teams developed several complex emission-control systems.


• Four universities were awarded $1.2 million in research grants on the basis of their competition experience.


• Three university hybrid electric vehicles were used to help validate the draft Society of Automotive Engineers Hybrid Electric Vehicle Emissions Procedures.


• More than 250 student papers and 20 Argonne technical papers have been published.