| What: | A team of engineering students will announce the completion of Yosemite, a plug-in hybrid electric 2002 Ford Explorer, UC Davis' entry into the 2002 FutureTruck competition. The car is designed to achieve mileage of up to 30 miles per gallon with all the performance of a standard sports utility vehicle. |
| Where: | Outside Engineering Building II, UC Davis campus |
| When: | 11 a.m. Friday, June 7 |
| Visuals | The car will be available for static filming and test drives. Last year's national winner, a converted Chevrolet Suburban, will also be available for filming. Members of the student team and faculty advisers will be available for interviews. |
| Background: | UC Davis is one of 15 universities in North America competing in the FutureTruck 2002 competition, sponsored by Ford Motor Company and the U.S. Department of Energy. Teams compete to modify a standard SUV to improve fuel efficiency and reduce greenhouse gas emissions while preserving performance. The competition runs from June 11 to June 21 at Ford's Arizona Proving Ground in Yucca, Ariz.; the California Air Resources Board in El Monte, Calif.; and the California Motor Speedway in Fontana, Calif. It will conclude with an awards ceremony in Los Angeles on June 21. |
| Directions and Parking: |
From Interstate 80, take the UC Davis exit and head north on Old Davis Road. After passing the information kiosk, turn left to follow the road to a stop sign. Proceed across a small bridge and then turn left onto La Rue Road. Turn right onto Bioletti Way before the parking lot and right onto Bainer Hall Drive. Engineering Unit II is to your left. The event will be at the far end of the building. Media can park free in any non-reserved parking space. If your vehicle
is not marked, place a business card or media accreditation on the dashboard. |
Media Resources
Andy Fell, Research news (emphasis: biological and physical sciences, and engineering), 530-752-4533, ahfell@ucdavis.edu
Andrew Frank, Mechanical and Aeronautical Engineering, (530) 752-8120, aafrank@ucdavis.edu