California Air Resources Board and Government of Canada Join EcoCAR as Sponsors

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New Diamond Sponsors to Drive Mission to Train a Next Generation of Engineers in Clean Vehicle Technology Solutions

WASHINGTON - EcoCAR: The NeXt Challenge announced that the California Air Resources Board (ARB) and the Government of Canada have signed-on as Diamond Sponsors for the EcoCAR Challenge. The new sponsors enable EcoCAR to strengthen its public and private partnerships in support of the next generation of engineers competing to improve fuel efficiency and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

The EcoCAR competition, along with its headline sponsors General Motors (GM) and the U. S. Department of Energy (DOE), challenges 17 universities across the U.S. and Canada to redesign and reengineer the 2009 Saturn VUE to further minimize energy consumption and reduce emissions. A joint effort among academic, government and industry partners, EcoCAR seeks to inspire the next generation of scientists and engineers by giving them the tools and experience necessary to secure a more energy-efficient future.

"We are pleased to have the California Air Resources Board and the Government of Canada on board as Diamond Sponsors for EcoCAR," said David Rodgers, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency at the DOE. "It is vital that we collaborate across state, federal and international boundaries to solve our critical energy and environmental challenges."

The California Air Resources Board is demonstrating a strong commitment to the EcoCAR competition because, like the challenge participants, the clean air agency is highly dedicated to reducing vehicle green-house gas emissions while maintaining a high-level of performance and functionality. Supporting ARB's mission, students will design and build the vehicles based on the categories from ARB's zero emissions vehicle (ZEV) regulations.

"The EcoCAR competition will produce the automotive industry's next generation of professionals who have a sincere passion for creating the environmentally-friendly vehicles of tomorrow," said Mary Nichols, ARB Chairman. "Together with EcoCAR, we'll pick up the pace in our efforts to reduce air pollution. Our sponsorship gives us the opportunity to attract newly-minted, top-notch engineers to join our team and apply their experience and talent to help create a sustainable transportation future."

The Government of Canada, which includes Natural Resources Canada and Transport Canada, is also highly involved in the EcoCAR program and has been a long time supporter of the DOE's advanced vehicle technology competitions, providing technical and program support for more than 22 competitions over 18 years. The Government of Canada's partnership with EcoCAR will strengthen the research and development of energy-efficient technologies currently underway at Canadian universities and throughout the Canadian automotive industry.

"The continued health of our economies and our environment demands innovative thinking today, especially where vehicle technology is concerned," said the Honourable Lisa Raitt, Canada's Minister of Natural Resources. "Our Government is proud to offer its support and encouragement to the young people who are part of the EcoCAR competition."

EcoCAR continues to sign on high-level sponsors with a passion for green innovation, including the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). EPA will support the testing and technical evaluation of the EcoCAR vehicles and provide strategic involvement in the execution of the program.

Other EcoCAR sponsors include: Platinum Sponsors: A123 Systems, Inc., dSPACE, National Instruments, The MathWorks, Freescale Semiconductor, AVL Powertrain Engineering, Inc., Gold Sponsors: National Science Foundation, Woodward MotoTron Control Solutions, Vector CANtech, Inc., Robert Bosch, LLC, Sensors, Inc., Silver Sponsors: Snap-On Tools, Magna International/Magna Powertrain, Renewable Fuels Association, and Bronze Sponsors: Siemens PLM Software, Electrical Power Research Institute, Delphi Foundation, EcoMotors, Women in the Winner's Circle Foundation, Igus and CarSim by Mechanical Simulation.