Students compete in Clean Snowmobile Challenge

Engineering students from across the United States and Canada are set compete in the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) Clean Snowmobile Challenge.

In the competition, students are challenged to re-engineer an existing snowmobile for improved emissions and noise without sacrificing the performance of the original snowmobile.

Michigan Technological University (MTU) in Houghton, Mich. will host the event, scheduled for March 10 to 15.

More than 150 students are expected to take part in this year’s event. Electric-powered snowmobiles will be included in the competition, as well as vehicles with internal combustion engines that run using alternative fuels—either E10 or E85 fuel.

Student teams entered in this year’s competition will compete in a variety of events which rate emissions, noise, fuel economy, endurance, acceleration, handling, static display, cold start and design factors.

To earn points in the emissions competition, teams will have to meet the federal government’s 2012 environmental standards. Due to environmental, economic and energy concerns, the availability and use of E85 fuel is increasing. E85, which is a blend of 15% ethanol and 85% premium gasoline, is designed for use in flexible fuel vehicles.

Ethanol is a clean-burning, high-octane fuel derived from renewable sources produced in the United States. Ethanol decreases emissions found in petroleum and increases a fuel’s octane rating.

For the sixth consecutive year, Gage Products Company will be an official sponsor of the Clean Snowmobile Challenge. Gage will provide the alternative fuels to the participating college and university teams.

“Gage is proud to support student efforts to promote awareness for the environment,” says Robert Jamrog, president of Gage Products Company. “This SAE Clean Snowmobile Challenge is just another way we can all continue to work toward a cleaner environment.”

The team with the most fuel-efficient snowmobile at the 2008 event will receive the Gage Best Fuel Economy award at a banquet in Houghton on Saturday, March 15.

Participating Schools:

Clarkston University (Postdam, NY) Ècole De Technologie Superieure (Montreal) Kettering University (Flint, Mich.) McGill University (Montreal) Michigan Technological University (Houghton, Mich.) Minnesota State University (Mankato, Minn.) Northern Illinois University (DeKalb, Ill.) State University of New York at Buffalo (Buffalo, NY) South Dakota School of Mines and Technology (Rapid City, SD) University of Idaho (Moscow, Idaho) University of Maine (Orono, Me.) University of Minnesota-Duluth (Duluth, Minn.) University of Waterloo (Waterloo, Ont.) University of Wisconsin-Madison (Madison, Wis.) University of Wisconsin-Platteville (Platteville, Wis.) Utah State University (Logan, Utah).