Argonne Honored for Technical Contributions to Challenge Bibendum

Argonne National Laboratory received an award for its significant contributions to Challenge Bibendum, the world's largest event designed to showcase and provide a real-world assessment of the progress in the development and availability of earth-friendly vehicles. The award acknowledged Argonne's technical contributions to the competition. In addition to Argonne, awards were presented to major original equipment manufacturers participating in the Challenge. Argonne was the only national laboratory recognized for its technical contributions to this high-profile event.

Created and organized by Michelin, Challenge Bibendum's goal is to create an objective platform for all facets of the transportation industry to come together — to see, discuss, showcase, and measure the progress being made towards sustainable road mobility.

Every year, the Challenge presents the best inventions from the world's largest vehicle manufacturers, equipment manufacturers, and energy suppliers through a series of tests (pollution analysis, noise, performance, safety, and design) that subject them to normal road conditions. The diversity of the solutions proposed by various players in the event offer a glimpse into a new era for mobility.

The entire event is organized by a project team and supported by an international team who validate the technical standards, decide upon the list of tests, and ensure that they are properly carried out.

In this year's event, held September 23-25, 2003, in Sonoma and San Francisco, California, 12 manufacturers entered 50 prototype and production vehicles. A Learning Center hosted 35 exhibitors showcasing technologies and environmental progress. Hydrogen-powered cars (fuel cells and internal combustion engines), diesels, and hybrid technologies dominated the field. Commercial vehicles — heavy-duty trucks and buses — were also added to the competition. More than 100 passenger and commercial vehicles competed at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, with an estimated 1,400 in attendance.

Argonne's Bob Larsen served as technical advisor to the International Design Jury, which selected vehicles for design awards. Awards for style innovation and technical integration were presented for both production and prototype vehicles. The 2004 Toyota Prius won both awards in the production category, while the 2002 Mercedes Benz F-Cell A-Class — a fuel cell vehicle — won both awards in the prototype category.

Five Argonne staff members were instrumental in the Challenge's smooth operation. Justin Kern and Mike Duoba assisted the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in their administration of an onroad vehicle emissions test event and evaluated the technology used for these measurements. Ted Bohn played a key role in supporting the vehicle fueling and energy consumption measurements for the Bibendum organizers. Kristen De La Rosa and Steve Gurski provided support to the three 2003 FutureTruck vehicles and four vehicles from previous Argonne-organized advanced vehicle technology competitions that were entered in the event. They also assisted the event's organizers. In addition, Argonne staff will be providing feedback to the organizers on improving the competition's operation in the future.

Argonne staff (left to right) Justin Kern, Mike Duoba, Bob Larsen, and Ted Bohn shown with their award for technical contributions to the Challenge Bibendum. Also honored, but not pictured, were Steve Gurski and Kristen De La Rosa.