Formula Hybrid Competition Tests Hybrid Technology Development, At The Race Track

Hybrid motor vehicles are here, attracting widespread attention and growing sales, and hybrid automotive technology is advancing with every new model year. “Formula Hybrid,” an international competition at the New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon, NH, encourages hybrid technology development utilizing a racing environment. The Speedway is home to many memorable NASCAR races, and is attracting industry support for the technology-building event.  

Bosch, a global leader in advanced automotive technology, supported the international competition and John Thomson, Zone Manager, Bosch Diagnostics Business Unit, and William Marchetti, Senior Technical Specialist, Bosch Service, served as judges for the event. “We believe the future of hybrid vehicles continues to look bright and that America’s colleges are certainly doing their part to help usher in the next generation of hybrid technology by providing much needed training to engineering.  

“Students in such diverse disciplines as electrical, mechanical and computer engineering showed off their working hybrid concepts and put them to the test at Formula Hybrid with a wide range of hybrid vehicles. They came away with proof on the race track that their concepts work,” Thomson said.  The competition was founded, and is run, by the Thayer School of Engineering at Dartmouth College.  

Supporting Hybrid Product Development  

“In this competition, there are a variety of vehicle designs that speak to the ongoing need for development of hybrid diagnostic technology and tools. Bosch’s MMD540H Digital Hybrid Multimeter is a great example of the kind of tool that will allow the technician to safely and accurately diagnose both conventional and hybrid vehicles,” said Thomson.  

Held earlier this year, the 3rd annual Formula Hybrid International Competition attracts teams of engineering students from more than 20 leading colleges and universities in the U.S., Canada, Russia, India and Taiwan. During this competition, students have an opportunity to impress judges, like Thompson and Marchetti from Bosch, while sponsors and observers are able to take away valuable data and experience for further development of hybrid vehicles and service products for the future.  

Texas A&M Takes Top Prize  

The Formula Hybrid Competition encourages interdisciplinary teamwork and innovation as teams of undergraduate and graduate students focus on the task of designing, building and racing high-performance, fuel-efficient plug-in vehicles. The competition consisted of technical inspections, design and marketing presentations, acceleration runs, an autocross competition and an endurance event.  

The Texas A&M University student team won 1st place Overall Hybrid.  

“The collegiate teams which participated in the Formula Hybrid competition demonstrated the kind of forward-thinking engineering that is prized by automotive industry leaders like Bosch, which supplies parts and diagnostic equipment for traditional fuel and hybrid vehicles.  Student entries show a thorough understanding of the complexities and challenges of designing fuel efficient hybrid vehicles that not only work, but work well enough to compete on a challenging race course,” Thomson said.  

SAE and IEEE endorse the Formula Hybrid Competition, and Formula Hybrid is a member of the SAE Collegiate Design series.  

The Bosch Group is a leading global supplier of technology and services. In the areas of automotive and industrial technology, consumer goods, and building technology, some 280,000 associates generated sales of 45.1 billion euros ($66.4 billion) in fiscal year 2008. The Bosch Group comprises Robert Bosch GmbH and its more than 300 subsidiaries and regional companies in over 60 countries. Including sales and service partners, Bosch is represented in roughly 150 countries. This worldwide development, manufacturing, and sales network are the foundation for further growth. Each year, Bosch spends more than 3.5 billion euros, or eight percent of its sales revenue, for research and development and applies for over 3,000 patents worldwide. With all its products and services, Bosch enhances the quality of life by providing solutions, which are both innovative and beneficial.

In North America, the Bosch Group manufactures and markets automotive original equipment and aftermarket products, industrial drives and control technology, power tools, security and packaging technology, thermotechnology, household appliances, solar energy and healthcare. Bosch employs nearly 24,000 associates in more than 70 locations throughout the U.S., Canada and Mexico, with reported sales of $8.6 billion in fiscal 2008. For more information on the company, visit www.boschusa.com.

For information on Bosch Aftermarket Automotive Products, visit www.boschautoparts.com.

For information on Bosch Diagnostic and Wheel Service Equipment, visit www.boschdiagnostics.com