1997 Propane Vehicle Challenge
In the 1997 Propane Vehicle Challenge vehicles both Minivans and
Dodge Dakota pick-up trucks were donated for the competition and were converted
from gasoline to propane fuel operation. The vehicles underwent emissions
testing, cold- and hot-start testing, design evaluation, and dynamic events
including range and fuel economy tests, a quarter-mile acceleration test, and a
vehicle handling evaluation. The University
of Windsor and St. Clair
College combined to convert a Dodge Dakota pick-up truck for liquid-propane
port-injected operation.
The
competition started at the Southwest Research Institute in San Antonio, Texas
where emissions tests were conducted The vehicles were
then tested for cold-start and hot-start. After design judging and the opening
ceremonies at Sea World of Texas, teams and organizers traveled to College Station, Texas
in a caravan, to compete in events at the Texas World Speedway. Vehicles were tested for range and fuel economy, as well as
quarter-mile acceleration. The event finished at the University
of Texas at Austin with an awards ceremony. The Windsor team came in 4th
place overall in spite of the fact of a head gasket failure during the quarter
mile event. The students replaced the head gasket on the site with the help of
a donated part from Texas A&M university. More
information is given in an article that was published
in the University
of Windsor Ambassador in
1997 and given below.
