Natural Resources Canada
98/07
February 19, 1998
UNIVERSITY OF WATERLOO REPRESENTS CANADA AT 1998 ETHANOL
VEHICLE CHALLENGE
OTTAWA — Students from the University of Waterloo will bring
corn and cars together as they represent Canada at the 1998 Ethanol Vehicle
Challenge in May. The students will convert a 1997 Chevy Malibu to run on E-85,
an environmentally friendly fuel blend of 85 per cent ethanol and 15 per cent
gasoline.
"The Ethanol Fuel Challenge combines two of the Government of Canada's
paramount interests: educating young people and providing support for the
development of science and technology," said Ralph Goodale, Minister of
Natural Resources. "Events like this provide valuable practical experience
for the participants while demonstrating to other young people the exciting and
varied opportunities available through scientific study."
The Ethanol Vehicle Challenge is one in a series of alternative
transportation fuel conversion competitions that has been supported by Natural
Resources Canada (NRCan).The 1998 Ethanol Vehicle Challenge is sponsored by
NRCan's CANMET Energy Technology Centre, the U.S. Department of Energy, General
Motors Corporation, the Council of Great Lakes Governors, Illinois Department of
Commerce and Community Affairs and the Illinois Corn Marketing Board. the U.S.
Department of Energy, and a North American automaker. Past competitions have
featured alternative fuels such as natural gas, methanol, propane and
electricity.
Fourteen student teams from Canadian and American colleges and universities
will compete. The students from Waterloo are the only Canadians participating
this year and won the honour by presenting an outstanding project proposal to
organizers of the event.
The competition will begin at the General Motors Technical Centre in Warren,
Michigan. The vehicles will undergo a number of tests including exhaust
emissions, fuel economy, acceleration and driveability. Teams will then
participate in a two-day road rally of over 600 miles that will finish in
Washington, DC.
Roydon Fraser, faculty advisor for Canada's University of Waterloo team,
noted, "This event will challenge the creativity of the students and their
ability to solve technical problems. In addition, it will help link the
automotive industry with some of the best new minds in the field."
Ethanol is produced from sugars derived from starches contained in corn and
other grains, as well as cellulose contained in grasses, trees and agricultural
residues. Unlike gasoline and diesel fuel, ethanol is produced from renewable
feedstocks.
"The market potential and environmental benefits for alternative
transportation fuel technologies in Canada are growing. Alternative
transportation fuels such as ethanol are showing increased promise and could
someday account for a larger share of the transportation fuel market," said
Minister Goodale.
For more information contact:
John Embury
Press Secretary
Natural
Resources Canada
(613) 996-2007
or
Roydon Fraser
Mechanical
Engineering Department
University of Waterloo
(519) 888-4764
|
