KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Vice President Al Gore praised University of Tennessee engineering students this week at a Washington, D.C., conference of automotive industry leaders.

At the conference, UT-Knoxville students Scott Sluder and John Norton exhibited the vehicle that won an alternative fuels competition this summer.

A 30-member team of UT engineering students converted the car to run on electricity and to recharge its batteries with a small natural gas-powered engine. UT cars have won the alternative fuels competitions four out of eight years.

Dr. Jeff Hodgson, UT engineering professor, explained the energy storage methods devised by the students in a speech to the Partnership for a New Generation of Vehicles.

“This was an extremely informative symposium, and a great opportunity for the University of Tennessee’s name to be brought before a group of very influential industry and government people,” Hodgson said.

Gore founded the partnership two years ago to link government, industry and universities in the development of a vehicle at least three times more efficient than current automobiles.

Contact: Dr. Jeff Hodgson (423-974-5294)

Share this story!

• 

Related Stories from Tennessee Today

1. Past Success Will Help UT College Racing Team (380) (July 18, 1997)
2. UT Knoxville Awards Former Vice President Al Gore an Honorary Doctorate (May 14, 2010)
3. UT Team Selected For Auto Competition (May 21, 2004)
4. UT Wins 4th Vehicle Competition (150) (June 14, 1995)
5. UT Student Automobile Engineers Face Toughest Test (210) (December 2, 1997)
6. UT Engineering Students to Sharpen Team Skills (330) (July 21, 1998)
7. UT Continues Alternative Fuel Success (254) (May 22, 1997)
8. UT Engineering Students to Sharpen Team Skills (330) (July 21, 1998)