Ann Arbor, Michigan—The University of Michigan College of Engineering‘s solar car M-Pulse sped to a first-place finish in the American Solar Challenge today. The 2,300-mile race along historic Route 66, which started on
A trial run along the race route near Oklahoma City on
The team’s faculty advisors, Professors Brian Gilchrist and Ken Kohrs, initially skeptical of the team’s ability to reconstruct the car in time to qualify for the Solar Challenge, spoke in glowing terms about the team’s accomplishments. “This win is a testament to the quality of this team. They have a rare combination of motivation, teamwork skills, willingness to accept personal sacrifice, and a real can-do attitude,” said Gilchrist. Kohrs explained that the team has behaved like a microcosm of automotive development and vehicle center activities—taking on an array of tasks including design, construction, logistics and fundraising, all of which had to be attended to within a highly condensed time frame.

M-Pulse became one of the leaders in the American Solar Challenge shortly after its start on
The U-M team was greeted by a crowd of family, friends and supporters, including Stephen W. Director, Dean of the College of Engineering. “The College of Engineering is extremely proud of this team’s accomplishments, said Director. “The U-M team’s victory is an example of what feats can be achieved with a blend of outstanding engineering capabilities, energy efficiency strategies, business management skills and enthusiastic teamwork.”

This is the third victory for the U-M in this national solar car competition, which has taken place a total of six times, and its first victory since 1993. With its recaptured leadership position, the team plans to take on international competitors at the World Solar Challenge in Australia in November 2001.

Twenty-eight cars competed in the race that began in Chicago on July 15 and finished today in Claremont. The American Solar Challenge is a biannual event in which participants build and race cars that rely solely on the sun as a fuel source.

About the University of Michigan College of Engineering The University of Michigan College of Engineering is consistently ranked among the top engineering schools in the world. The College is comprised of 11 academic departments: aerospace engineering; atmospheric, oceanic and space sciences; biomedical engineering; chemical engineering; civil and environmental engineering; electrical engineering and computer science; industrial and operations engineering; materials science and engineering; mechanical engineering; naval architecture and marine engineering; and nuclear engineering and radiological sciences. Each year the college enrolls over 6,000 undergraduate and graduate students and grants about 1,000 undergraduate degrees and 600 masters and doctoral degrees. To learn more, please visit our web site at www.engin.umich.edu.

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College of EngineeringBrian GilchristStephen W. Directorwww.engin.umich.edu