Student Innovators Design Cars for a Greener Future

Three Canadian University Teams Competing for Top EcoCAR Design at North American Challenge Finals Held in Toronto

Canadian Team, University of Victoria Currently Leads the Competition

This week, teams participating in the collegiate engineering competition, EcoCAR: the NeXt Challenge, will meet in Toronto to compete head-to-head for the recognition of top green vehicle design. Canadian universities: University of Waterloo, Ontario Institute of Technology and University of Victoria are participating in this challenge against 14 American student teams. Even though judging is not finished until the end of the week, University of Victoria currently leads the competition.

The week long celebration of innovation and green vehicle technology will culminate In a final press conference on Friday, June 12th where one team will be named the first year competition EcoCAR Design Winner based on their innovative green designs and virtual models. All qualifying student teams will embark on the second phase of the three-year Challenge turning their cutting edge design simulations into reality.

Winners Announced - Press Conference

When:	Friday June 12, 11:45 a.m.
Where:	Sheraton Centre, Innovation Theatre, 123 Queen Street West
Who:	Speakers, which include Lisa Raitt, Minister of Natural Resources Canada; John Lushetsky, Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary, U.S. Department of Energy; and Mark Maher, Executive Director of Powertrain Integration at GM Powertrain, will announce the top 3 Design Winners and will be present students with keys to their Saturn VUE to begin the physical stage of the competition. Speakers and Student teams will be available for interviews during the event.
When:	Friday, September 18, 2009.

EcoCAR, which was established through a partnership between the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and General Motors (GM), as well as a number of other high-level sponsors, is a three-year collegiate advanced vehicle technology engineering competition. By combining government resources and industry knowledge, EcoCAR aims to inspire and support the next generation of scientists and engineers to unite around the common goal of sustainable mobility. www.ecocarchallenge.org

Headline Sponsors: The U.S. Department of Energy and General Motors
Diamond Sponsors: The Government of Canada and The California Air Resources Board.
Platinum Sponsors: A123 Systems, Inc, dSPACE, National Instruments, The Mathworks, Freescale
Semiconductor, AVL Powertrain Engineering, Inc, and The Environmental Protection Agency.
2009 Event Sponsors: The Ontario Government, Ontario Centres of Excellence, Ontario Power Authority and the City of Toronto.

Participating Schools: Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Georgia Tech, Howard University, Michigan Technological University, Mississippi State University, Missouri University of Science and Technology, North Carolina State University, The Ohio State University, Ontario Institute of Technology, Pennsylvania State University, Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, Texas Tech University, University of Victoria, University of Waterloo, University of Wisconsin, Virginia Tech and West Virginia University.

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Media Contact:
Katherine Clark / Cathy Cowan, Cowan & Company
416-462-8773 ext. 55 or
katherine.clark@cowanandcompany.net