2001 Results
Penn State placed ninth in the 2001 competition. Other noteworthy accomplishments include receiving the second place Cisco Systems Telematics Award, placing fourth in safety, placing sixth in acceleration, and producing the best diesel tailpipe emissions.
The 2001 PowerLion in competition at GM’s Milford Proving Grounds
The 2000 Suburban was donated to Penn State in December 1999 for the 2000 and 2001 FutureTruck competitions. The Suburban was converted into a series hybrid electric vehicle by students at Penn State. Under a series design, a 2.5 L Detroit Diesel engine is coupled to a 100 kW generator. The engine is solely used to drive the generator and is totally decoupled from the drivetrain, allowing us to keep the engine operating at its peak efficiency. The generator provides power to a common buss between the 300 Volt lead acid battery pack and the electric motors. Any power that is not consumed by the electric motors goes to charge the batteries. The rear electric drivetrain is powered by an AC induction motor through a belt reduction to a 2-speed Powerglide transmission. The front drive is powered by another AC Induction motor with a straight belt reduction. Finally, the PowerLion also utilizes regenerative braking which charges the batteries when the brakes are applied.
The 2001 Future Truck team in front of the Capitol Building in Washington D.C.
