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Rose-Hulman Team Achieves 1,476 mpg to be Top U.S. College in Shell Eco-Marathon
April 22, 2011
A year filled with many firsts ended up with Rose-Hulman
Institute of Technology's Efficient Vehicles Team placing first
among U.S. colleges and universities in this year's Shell
Eco-Marathon Americas 2011 competition, conducted April 14-17 in
Houston, Texas.
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Getting Most Out Of Vehicle: Allyson Nelson concentrates on
keeping Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology's new efficient vehicle
on the most efficient racing line around the track during the
recent Shell Eco-Marathon Americas competition in Houston,
Texas. (Photo from Allen White).
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Rose-Hulman's new vehicle achieved a remarkable 1,476 mpg to
place third overall, and being the top American collegiate entry,
in this annual competition that pushes the boundaries of innovative
fuel efficiency solutions. There were over 700 students from
62 teams at the event, with 32 vehicles joining Rose-Hulman in
being powered by gasoline-fueled internal combustion engines.
Laval University of Canada won the prototype class for the third
consecutive year with a car that could go 2,565 miles per
gallon. Evansville's Mater Dei High School was second.
This year, Rose-Hulman students designed and finished a
completely new car -- in only seven weeks -- that featured the
first carbon fiber chassis and a modified 25cc Honda engine.
Also, the college had an improved second vehicle (which finished
fifth at 1,205 mpg) from past Eco-marathon competitions that had
been outfitted with a new fuel injection system. Both
vehicles had new drivers, adding more intrigue to the team's
performance.
"What we were able to achieve this year was a total team
accomplishment," pointed out Rose-Hulman Efficient Vehicles Team
President Stephen Sakai. He especially pointed out the
contributions of team members Matt Devonish and Zak Eckert,
mechanical engineering students who spent countless hours building
the new car since early March.
"There were long, sleepless nights throughout the competition,
but everyone worked very hard and we got a great result to show for
it," stated Sakai.
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| Hard Working Team: Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology
students (from left) Paul Himes, Blaine Castongia, Jesse Garcia and
James Allen prepare their car for inspection during the Shell
Eco-Marathon Americas 2011 competition. (Photo Courtesy of
Shell Eco-Marathon) |
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Allen White, assistant professor of mechanical engineering and
team faculty advisor, stated: "We made significant changes to the
body of new vehicle and to the fuel system of our classic vehicle
throughout the competition. The changes were successful and
we showed improvement each time on the track. I am very proud
of the team, especially the way the students fought to overcome
difficulties and did not give up."
Rose-Hulman finished ahead of teams from the University of
Illinois, University of Colorado, Northern Illinois University and
Louisiana Tech in the gasoline fueled internal combustion engine
division.
Allyson Nelson, a sophomore mechanical engineering major, was
behind the wheel for the top-performing Rose-Hulman vehicle.
She achieved her goal to get as much gas mileage out of the vehicle
as possible.
"It was a very proud moment to sit in the car for the first time
and start the engine after arriving in Houston," she said. "I
took a few of my teammates with me out to walk around the track to
determine the best line I could follow to aid in achieving our
efficiency goal . . . The guys who designed and built the car did a
magnificent job. Overall, it was a fantastic experience and
I'm very glad to have shared it with the whole team. Everyone
did tremendous work."
Rose-Hulman's fifth-place classic vehicle was driven by
Alexandra Schwier, a sophomore biomedical engineering major.
The Efficient Vehicles Team is part of Rose-Hulman's Advanced
Transportation Systems Program (ATSP), which embodies the
education, practice and scholarship of advanced transportation
technologies and methodologies necessary to the development of the
next generation of innovative engineers, scientists and
mathematicians who will design and build future global
transportation systems.
Learn more about the http://www.rose-hulman.edu/advancedtransportation/