Prepares for National Finale Competition
June 9
MOSCOW The University of Idaho's Summit,
the worlds first triple hybrid vehicle,
and Buf, its mud-eating, hauling monster truck,
are in the act again.
The pair were to be demonstrated to the dean of the College
of Engineering at noon (PST) today (Friday, March 12) in front
of the Janssen Engineering Building on the UI campus. Dean
David Thompson will put his own foot to the pedals for a "test
drive."
Summit is a student-converted Ford Explorer that runs on
gasoline, electricity and stored hydraulic power no
batteries. It's been redesigned to use less energy than conventional
Explorers and to reduce emissions. The engine is modified
for improved efficiency and runs on 85 percent ethanol, helping
reduce greenhouse gases.
Buf, the tow vehicle, is in the garage next to Wholesale
Hydraulics, in the Fountain Business Park. This truck is the
result of community-donated services and student labors of
love. When the student team drives the vehicles cross-country
to Detroit early in June, it plans to stop and talk to media,
and show off the "trucks that a community built,"
say the team members. The trucks also will be displayed at
the April 30 Engineering Design EXPO at UI.
The student team has been part of the three-year Ford competition
and two years of Chevy challenges to re-engineer a conventional
SUV into a lower-emissions vehicle with at least 25 percent
higher fuel economy all without sacrificing performance,
utility, safety and affordability.
The Summit won a second place for telematics
or best use of technology at last year's national FutureTruck
competition. This June 9-17, UI's FutureTruck will join entries
from 14 other universities at Fords Michigan Proving
Grounds for the finale contest. See www.FutureTruck.org for
details.
"When this last competition ends, the team will concentrate
on applying clean vehicle technologies to the Northwest transportation
sector," said Frank Albrecht, staff adviser to the advanced
vehicle concepts team.
"We are starting with a feasibility study to determine
the economic, technologic and social impacts of applying hybrid
technology to Latah County garbage trucks."
This year's team members are 70-some strong with seven student
leaders. The leaders are:
Greg Frankamp, senior design, thermal control, Boise; Fred
Jessup, electronics and modeling group leader, Grangeville;
Richard Statler, team president, Moscow; Brant Osiensky, powertrain
group leader, Moscow; Jeremy Forbes, team vice president,
Mountain Home; Brad Watson, accessories group leader, Parma;
Tom Coburn, hydraulics leader, Pocatello; Cristy Izatt, team
public relations, Post Falls; Michael Briggs, telematics group
leader, Claremont, Calif.