NEWS

Louisiana Tech Eco Car makes Top Ten at Shell Eco Challenge

Apr 29, 2009 | General News

Louisiana Tech’s eco car, developed by a student and faculty team from the College of Engineering and Science, placed in the top ten of the Shell Eco Challenge and increased their mileage from last year by 50% with their prototype car earning 696.7 miles per gallon.

Last year, the Louisiana Tech team placed 12th in the competition with the car traveling 430 miles on one gallon of gasoline.

500 students from 44 colleges and high schools in North America met at the Fontana Speedway in Los Angeles to see who could design and build this year’s most fuel efficient car.

The team also built a second car that was designed to travel long distances on small amounts of fuel in an urban or ‘stop and go’ city environment. The Tech team was only one of three teams to design a car for this ‘urban’ competition.

Dean Stan Napper said he is very proud of the students’ hard work.

“I am pleased that more students were involved this year, that more sponsors supported the development costs this year, and that the teams accomplished greater success.”

Napper said he was especially pleased with the Tech team’s camaraderie and professional friendship with their fellow competitors.

Dr. Heath Tims, assistant professor of mechanical engineering, advised the student team and traveled with the group to California. He said new innovations are already planned for next year’s competition.

For more information about Tech’s eco cars, you can log onto www.latechecocar.com.

Written by Catherine Fraser