Natural Gas Vehicle Challenge

Background
Gallery
Innovations & Highlights
Universities
Winners & Awards
Sponsors
Media

Background

The Natural Gas Vehicle (NGV) Challenge began in 1991 when General Motors donated a GMC Sierra 2500 pickup truck to 24 engineering schools that submitted the best design proposals for the purpose of converting the vehicles to dedicated natural gas use. Natural gas was selected as the next fuel for the students to work with because the U.S. has an abundance of domestic natural gas resources and many natural gas companies were promoting its use in motor vehicles.

The schools converted the trucks to run on two forms of natural gas: two vehicles operated on liquefied natural gas (LNG) and 22 operated on compressed natural gas (CNG). The required modifications to the trucks were substantial and involved adding natural gas fuel tanks, adapting the fuel delivery system and engine control system, and modifying the exhaust system (i.e., catalytic converter) to minimize emissions. In addition, some schools used different compression ratios, engine displacements, and/or rear-end gear ratios to help increase fuel economy. The 1991 NGV Challenge was held in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma and the emissions testing was performed at the National Institute for Petroleum and Energy Research (NIPER) in Bartlesville, Oklahoma.

For the second year (1991-1992), 20 schools competed to refine their natural gas vehicle. After a year of refinement, a three-hour road rally was held at General Motors’ Proving Ground in Milford, Michigan. The best student vehicle got 17% better miles per gallon gasoline equivalent (mpgge) on the federal test procedure than the gasoline control vehicle. The emissions testing was performed at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

In the last year of NGV Challenge (1992-1993), five teams joined the competition for the first time. The final year was held in Austin, Texas for a 350-mile road rally. The emissions testing in 1993 was performed at EG&G Automotive Research in San Antonio, Texas and at the Natural Gas Vehicle Technology Center (NGV Tech Center) in Austin, Texas.

Inovations & Hightlights

Over the three year competition, students were able to participate in an once-in-a-lifetime experience. During the competition, students impressed industry professionals with their vehicle designs and how they utilized natural gas.

One of the biggest innovations and highlights from NGV Challenge was that the average EPA combined fuel economy (from both the city and highway tests) went from 12.7 mpg in 1991 to 13.6 mpg in 1992 to 14.82 mpg in 1993. This was a steady and impressive progression. Below are some other highlights from the series.

In the first year (1990-1991), only three teams earned points in the emissions event whereas in 1993, eleven teams met or exceeded the current federal emissions standards.
Concordia and Northwestern measured the highest combined EPA fuel economy, with Northwestern getting 19.4 mpg as compared to the gasoline truck in 1991.
In 1992, the top three fuel economies were Concordia at 20.8 mpg, Illinois Institute of Technology at 20.5 mpg and University of Nebraska at 19.5 mpg.
Old Dominion University, in conjunction with Siemens Corporation, developed a gaseous fuel injector for its 1993 NGV Challenge vehicle
In 1992, two LNG vehicles had the best ranges: University of Maryland with 423 miles and University of Alabama at 411 miles.
Colorado State and University of Virginia measured the lowest engine-out emissions on the basis of their ranking in the categories of THC, NOx, and CO engine-out emissions in 1992.
In 1992, the best CNG vehicles were Concordia University at 388 miles and New York Institute of Technology at 315 miles.
Northwestern, General Motors Institute/Kettering, and the University of Toronto had the lowest emissions of all the universities over the FTP cycle in 1992.
In 1993, best student vehicle got 14% better mpgge on than the federal test procedure than the gasoline control vehicle.
Northwestern University developed an innovative gas-quality sensor that allows a closed-loop feedback engine control system to vary its parameters according to the gas content. This sensor was further developed by the Gas Research Institute.
Old Dominion University and Siemens Automotive worked together to invent a multi-alternative-fuel injector that Chrysler put into production of their CNG vehicles
Texas Tech university developed a CNG Conversion system that GM Mesa put into production

Universities Involved

Winners & Awards

Each year, university teams compete in a variety of static and dynamic events that range from oral presentations to on-road vehicle testing to communications and business tactics. These static and dynamic events are judged by industry sponsors and professionals, both throughout the year and in-person at the year-end competition.

Below includes more detail about event awards and winners:

1st Place: University of Tennessee, Knoxville
2nd Place: Colorado State University
3rd Place: Concordia University
4th Place: Ecole Polytechnique de Montreal
5th Place: California State University, Northridge

1st Place: Concordia University
2nd Place: General Motors Institute/Kettering
3rd Place: University of Maryland
4th Place: University of Toronto
5th Place: Texas Tech University
Best Fuel Economy: Northwestern University
Best Emission: Northwestern University

1st Place: Northwestern University
2nd Place: Texas Tech University
3rd Place: University of Texas, Austin
4th Place: Old Dominion University
5th Place: University of Maryland