The following is a excerpt from an official brochure of the 1995 Hybrid Electric Vehicle Challenge. These were used by universities participating in the challenge to seek out prospective sponsors. It explains with some detail the objective of the competition. Images of the actual brochure are at the end of this page.

The automobile as it is known today is under a radical transformation. As the world works to balance the critical need to personal transportation with the needs of protecting the environment, new technologies must be developed.

Those corporations with the foresight and vision to join this technological revolution will be the ones that reap the rewards as the automotive industry moves forward. Here is an excellent opportunity to join with Chrysler Corporation, Department of Energy (DOE), the National Renewable Energy Laboratories (NREL), Society of Automotive engineers (SAE), Natural Resources Canada and some of the brightest engineering students from North America’s top engineering universities in a unique and exciting program to develop these technologies.

The 1995 Hybrid Electric Vehicle Challenge is one of the most rigorous and rewarding intercollegiate competitions of its kind, involving more than 800 students from 39 of North American’s top engineering schools, as well as hundreds of professionals from government and the automotive industry.

The sponsors and participants for 1995 were Chrysler Corporation, Department of Energy (DOE), the National Renewable Energy Laboratories (NREL), Society of Automotive engineers (SAE), Natural Resources Canada and some of the brightest engineering students from North America’s top engineering universities.

For the 1995 HEV Challenge, a hybrid electric vehicle is defined as a vehicle with two sources of motive energy: an electric motor powered by batteries and a combustion engine powered by compressed natural gas, – methanol, ethanol or reformulated gasoline.

Students participating in the HEV Challenge [will] apply their engineering knowledge and practical skills to develop cutting-edge automotive technology, and in the process gain a heightened appreciation for the real-world engineering problem solving and teamwork.

Last year’s [1994] HEV Challenge featured 42 university teams divided among three classes. For 1995’s event, a new Neon Conversion Class has been added that will bring 12 new vehicles to the three-class field:

  • Neon Conversion Class: New in 1995, students must convert the Neons to run as electric hybrid vehicles using compressed natural gas (CNG). The Neons must also have working heating and air conditioning systems, stressing the need to meet consumer demands.
  • Ford Escort Conversion Class [1993]: Uses Ford Escort Wagons as the platform for hybrid development.
  • Saturn Conversion Class [1994]: These hybrid designs are based on Saturn SL2 Sedan platforms

The 1995 HEV Challenge will be hosted by Chrysler at its [new] billion-dollar technology center in Auburn Hills, Michigan in June of 1995. A panel of HEV Challenge judges will evaluate each hybrid contender in eight competitive categories and winners will be selected for each vehicle classification.

– 1995 HEV Challenge Competitive Events –

  • Emissions – Testing compliance with current EPA standards
  • Range – Range and average speed evaluation
  • Acceleration – Timed acceleration from a standing start
  • HVAC (Neon only) – Air conditioning and heating performance
  • Hardlines – Dynamic Testing of Vehicles on a per-determined course
  • Vehicle Energy Efficiency – Efficiency of vehicle energy use during the HEV Challenge
  • Consumer Appeal – Evaluation on the vehicle’s ability to perform to customer demands
  • Design Review – Evaluation of quality, safety and overall vehicle design and construction