Buckeye Bullet 2 Blog

Popular Mechanics December 2007

2007-12-03T12:26:00.000-05:00

[Buckeye Bullet Update] Schmiedeler Honored at White House

2007-11-09T08:50:00.001-05:00

To Buckeye Bullet fans everywhere,

World land speed records are born in the classrooms of Ohio State's College of Engineering.

Mechanical Engineering Professor Jim Schmideler was honored at the White House on November 1st as a winner of a 2006 Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE). Jim is participating in the National Science Foundation's (NSF) Faculty Early Career Development Program (CAREER).

Read the entire NSF press release at
http://www.nsf.gov/news/news_summ.jsp?cntn_id=110588&org=NSF&from=news

Click on http://www.nsf.gov/news/news_images.jsp?cntn_id=110588&org=NSF to see Jim's photo and to read more about Jim's award winning work.

Awards at Ohio State 'hang' in offices and hallways. Our people 'hang' in classrooms, laboratories and on the Salt at Bonneville always 'Doing Something Great"!

Congratulations, Jim!

Go Bucks!

Pete Miller
http://buckeyebullet.blogspot.com/

[Buckeye Bullet Update] HBO - MICHIGAN VS. OHIO STATE: THE RIVALRY - 2007

2007-11-08T13:20:00.001-05:00

To Buckeye Bullet fans everywhere,

Set your DVR's to HBO on Tuesday, November 13th, 10:30pm (USA east) to record the HBO documentary:

MICHIGAN VS. OHIO STATE: THE RIVALRY - 2007.

Check the HBO website http://www.hbo.com/apps/schedule/ScheduleServlet?ACTION_DETAIL=DETAIL&FOCUS_ID=636526 for dates and times in your area.

One of the greatest rivalries in all of sports--Michigan vs. Ohio State in college football--is examined in this documentary. Featuring interviews with well-known grads, players and coaches (including the late Bo Schembechler, in his final interview) along with rare footage, the film chronicles every aspect of this amazing annual clash that began 110 years ago.

Go Bucks!

Pete Miller
http://buckeyebullet.blogspot.com/

Congratulations from Berlin Germany

2007-10-17T19:26:00.001-04:00

Congratulations!!!!!!!!!

Must be exciting to be a part of this team. Go Bucks .......

Werner

Am 11.10.2007 um 13:13 schrieb Pete Miller:

HBO to air documentary on Ohio State/Michigan Rivalry

2007-10-16T06:34:00.001-04:00

Press Release (posted on the Buckeye Blog) -

MICHIGAN VS. OHIO STATE: THE RIVALRY, HBO SPORTS' FIRST COLLEGE FOOTBALL DOCUMENTARY, DEBUTS NOV. 13

HBO Sports will present its first college football documentary, chronicling the rivalry of the University of Michigan and Ohio State University, this fall. Steeped in a rich tradition dating back to their inaugural meeting in 1897, this rivalry extends beyond the pursuit of a Big Ten title, and is renewed each year through the pageantry and colliding cultures that distinguish the two schools. Presented four days before the Ohio State Buckeyes take on the Michigan Wolverines at Ann Arbor, MICHIGAN VS. OHIO STATE: THE RIVALRY debuts TUESDAY, NOV. 13 (10:30-11:30 p.m. ET/PT), exclusively on HBO.

Other HBO playdates: Nov. 15 (7:00 p.m.), 16 (6:00 p.m., 12:55 a.m.), 17 (10:00 a.m.), 20 (5:00 p.m.), 23 (9:30 a.m., 10:15 p.m.), 25 (11:00 a.m.) and 28 (9:30 a.m., 11:00 p.m.).

Each year, the football programs at Ohio State and Michigan gear up with a common goal: to beat their archrival on the third weekend in November, no matter the rankings, no matter the score. Widely considered college football's biggest rivalry, these two Big Ten powerhouses frequently dominate the standings, and attract game-day crowds that exceed 100,000 rabid followers. On Nov. 18, 2006, more than 105,000 fans watched No. 1 Ohio State defeat No. 2 Michigan by a score of 42-39, with an additional 21.8 million tuning in on TV.

"This film will split the viewers right down the middle," says Ross Greenburg, president, HBO Sports. "The Ohio State-Michigan rivalry is considered one of the most compelling in college football history, consuming not only the Midwest, but the nation. Spanning more than a century, with names like Bo Schembechler and Woody Hayes, Archie Griffin and Desmond Howard, the characters and storylines of this yearly showdown are memorable. So there is no better place for HBO Sports to delve into the college football realm than with these two extraordinary programs."

Separated by only 200 miles, Ohio State University and the University of Michigan began their football rivalry in 1897. U of M won that first game 34-0 and dominated the series until 1919, but the matchup has been virtually even over the course of the last 50 meetings, as the two battle for the Big Ten title and a shot at the national championship.

MICHIGAN VS. OHIO STATE: THE RIVALRY spotlights exuberant and charismatic coaches Woody Hayes and Bo Schembechler, who battled from opposite sides of the field over a decade that came to be known as "The Ten Year War." Schembechler shared his thoughts with HBO in an interview – the coach's last long-form interview before his death – conducted in Michigan Stadium on Nov. 16, 2006, two days prior to the most anticipated meeting in the rivalry's history. Other interview subjects include Earle Bruce, Cris Carter, Dan Dierdorf, Randy Gradishar, Desmond Howard, Archie Griffin, Jim Mandich, Jack Nicklaus and Mike Wallace.

Unlike many other sports rivalries, the Ohio State-Michigan face-off has not only endured, but is growing. The Wall Street Journal notes, "The game continues to carry the most genuine mark of a great rivalry: The feud between the two schools injects itself into everything from business and politics to an annual blood drive where volunteers from the two campuses vie to see which side can siphon the most plasma."

The executive producers of MICHIGAN VS. OHIO STATE: THE RIVALRY are Ross Greenburg and Rick Bernstein; produced by George Roy.

Composites Help Fuel-Cell Vehicles Set New Speed Records

2007-10-12T21:56:00.000-04:00

Source: CompositesWorld.com

By Staff | October 2007

Source: Ford

Ford Motor Co. (Detroit, Mich.) set a new world speed record on Aug. 16 when its Ford Fusion Hydrogen 999 car, the world’s first production-based hydrogen fuel cell race car, set a new speed record for hydrogen fuel-cell powered vehicles of 207.3 mph/333.62 kph at the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah. Built in collaboration with Ballard Power Systems (Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada), Roush Industries (Livonia, Mich.) and Ohio State University (OSU, Columbus, Ohio), the car — weighing more than 6,000 lb/2,722 kg — is based on the company’s hydrogen-powered Focus vehicle currently in testing. Greg Fraker of Roush says that the vehicle was fitted with a new composite nose to improve aerodynamics and handling at high speed. OSU students also fielded a second vehicle, a streamlined design called the Buckeye Bullet 2, that is a takeoff on the team’s earlier electric car project. Also hydrogen fuel-cell-powered, the car sported a carbon fiber composite body shell fabricated by Roush. The Bullet was clocked at 201.6 mph.

Source: Ford

[Buckeye Bullet Update] Fwd: Buckeye Bullet 2 sets new FIA fuel cell vehicle land speed record - report 9 from Salt Flats

2007-10-11T07:13:00.001-04:00

From: Giorgio Rizzoni <rizzoni.1@osu.edu>
Date: Oct 11, 2007 6:24 AM
Subject: Buckeye Bullet 2 sets new FIA fuel cell vehicle land speed record - report 9 from Salt Flats

Friends of the Buckeye Bullet:

This is the ninth of a series of reports describing the progress of the Buckeye Bullet 2 at The Bonneville World Finals. The BB2 is a hydrogen fuel cell land speed vehicle designed to break the speed record for electric vehicles at the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah. It is designed and built by Ohio State University students out of the Center for Automotive Research in Columbus, Ohio. More details may be found at:

http://www.buckeyebullet.com/

Dedicated BB2 fans may also enjoy the daily blog:

http://buckeyebullet.blogspot.com/

More information on the Salt Flats may be found on the official website:

http://www.utah.com/playgrounds/bonneville_salt.htm

______________________________________________________________________________

October 11th, 2007, 6 am

Never a dull moment at the Salt Flats... As of yesterday the BB2 was the only team left, after one of the other record seekers had already set a record, and the other two had blown their engines while attempting to set their records.

With the BB2 as the lone survivor, it became clear the Wednesday would be the last day of the meet. Again, no pressure. On this subject, I take the liberty to quote the very nice message of our friend, alumnus and sponsor Ralph Rockow, who has evidently experienced similar situations... Thank you Ralph for everything you have done for us over the years!!

Sure you love life at the Salt Flats…………just like I loved those all night sessions baby sitting the Apollo LEM descent engine test firings with one delay after another!!!

Ralph A. Rockow
President
Exodyne, Inc.
www.exodyne.com < http://www.exodyne.com >

Given the limited time available the Bullet set out to attempt the hydrogen fuel cell LSR. The attempt began around 1pm local time. In order to qualify for a record, the vehicle would have to complete two runs in opposite directions within 60 minutes. The BB2 started at the far end of the track, with a plan to refuel at the south end, where the pit area is located, and the restart in the outbound direction within one hour. The timed mile for the "flying mile" record is in the middle of the 11-mile course.

One more time, the BB2 had a strong start on both legs of the record runs, but had an automatic shut down once it reached full power, in spite of all the work done during the preceding 24 hours to rectify the hydrogen flow problems. Thus, on both runs the Bullet coasted through the flying mile without any power. Fortunately, coasting is a relative concept, and BB2 was able to average approximately 130 mph along the timed mile, resetting the fuel cell vehicle record in class 3 (unlimited weight) by nearly 50 mph. I will send images of the certificate and other details of the run as soon as I have them in digital form.

I want to make it clear that we shall investigate the history of FIA records, as I believe this to be the first time ever that a vehicle has actually set a FIA record with ZERO TRACTIVE POWER.

In summary, during the past two weeks the Bullet2 has recorded the fastest ever speed for a hydrogen fueled and fuel cell powered vehicle at around 224 mph, and has set the official FIA world record for Group XIV-class 3 (fuel cell engine, unlimited weight) at around 130 mph.

We are proud of the accomplishments of the OSU student team, and we look forward to reaching even higher goals next August. The team will be returning to Columbus late today.

Go Bucks! Go Fast (or coast, as you prefer)!

Giorgio Rizzoni

P.S.: the last communication I had with the team was from the truck weighing station at the border of Utah with Nevada. Those who have been to Bonneville will know exactly where it is. Eeighing the vehicle is a required FIA procedure for certification, and the BB2 has to PROVE that it weighs more than 1000 kg, thus belonging to class 3. Now, those who have seen this monster know that it must weigh the better part of 2.5 tons, so you would think the weigh-in would not be needed. Alas, it was required and the truck scales were shorter than the wheelbase of the BB2, thus requiring that the trailer be weighed with and without the BB2 in it. That provided some humor, as well as a lot of work...

Salt Lake City's Morningside Elementary School Shines on Buckeye Bullet

2007-10-11T04:01:00.001-04:00

Another Ohio State success that is measured not in miles per hour but in the lives of a dozen future leaders, workers, parents and citizens . . . .

Go Bucks!

Pete Miller
http://buckeyebullet.blogspot.com/

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Patti White
Date: Oct 11, 2007 12:00 AM
Subject: Re: SLC's Morningside Elementary School Shines on Buckeye Bullet
To: Pete Miller <cruzzen@gmail.com>

Dear Pete,
I want you to know how much fun we had! You should have felt the
excitement as we drove our school bus down the race course. The
students were so amazed to see the cars up close and talk to the
drivers. What an incredible experience we had. Thank you for making
our trip so memorable. I will show the class the blog. I hope to make
another trip out next year!
Patti White

On 10/10/07, Pete Miller <cruzzen@gmail.com> wrote:
Hi Patti,

I have posted Brent Singleton's photos of your students visiting the Buckeye Bullet 2 pits at Bonneville on the Buckeye Bullet Blog at http://buckeyebullet.blogspot.com/ .

One of the most moving Buckeye Bullet photos I have ever seen is the one of little Caroline (blind student) sitting in the Buckeye Bullet 2 cockpit. I hope that you and all of your students enjoyed your visit.

We thank you for making the grueling 2-hour school bus ride out to the Salt Flats. Our Ohio State students and Buckeye Bullet driver Roger Schroer said that your visit made an exciting day ever better and more rewarding.

I have also forwarded the photos and information on to Joan Wall at The Ohio State College of Engineering and to Teri Elliot at TRC, Inc., among the largest automotive proving grounds in the world and where Roger works and the Bullet is tested. www.trcpg.com Both will be interested in doing stories in their respective publications.

I have also copied Mark Messean of The Ohio State University Utah Alumni Club for local contact and continuity.

We also want to thank Brent Singleton, Utah Clean Cities Coalition, Utah EV Coalition, president and Bonneville's Alternative Fuel Event Coordinator for arranging the trip and for the photos.

Some of the photos are also being featured on the SCTA-BNI website.

Perhaps a decade from now some of your students will become Ohio State Buckeyes.

Go Bucks!

Pete Miller
http://buckeyebullet.blogspot.com/

Good luck from Ford!

2007-10-10T10:12:00.000-04:00

Pete,

Please give the BB2 team our well wishes from Ford as they continue to push on this week! We have the utmost respect for the students and are pulling for them from Dearborn. We're following the progress from the blogs and phone calls. Solve those issues and go fast!!

Thanks,
Matt

Regards,
Matt Zuehlk
Fuel Cell Vehicle Development
Research and Advanced Engineering
Ford Motor Company

Buckeye Bullet 2 will be attempting FIA records - report 8 from Salt Flats

2007-10-10T06:38:00.000-04:00

Friends of the Buckeye Bullet:

This is the eigth of a series of reports describing the progress of the Buckeye Bullet 2 at The Bonneville World Finals. The BB2 is a hydrogen fuel cell land speed vehicle designed to break the speed record for electric vehicles at the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah. It is designed and built by Ohio State University students out of the Center for Automotive Research in Columbus, Ohio. More details may be found at:

http://www.buckeyebullet.com/

Dedicated BB2 fans may also enjoy the daily blog:

http://buckeyebullet.blogspot.com/

More information on the Salt Flats may be found on the official website:

http://www.utah.com/playgrounds/bonneville_salt.htm

______________________________________________________________________________

October 10th, 2007, 7 am

Yesterday the BB2 continued its preparation and attempted a run in the morning.
Once again, the vehicle responded well to the initial acceleration, pulling away very well under power, until it reached a speed of around 230 mph, then the power system shut down again. This time it was clear that the inverter was performing well, and it became apparent that the problem is a hydrogen leak that, appropriately, causes a shut down. We are very pleased about the safety systems in the vehicle!
This is a problem that the testing at TRC and the early run at the World Finals last week could not have detected, as it appears only at speeds above 200 mph (double what we can achieve at TRC) and at full power.
Yesterday afternoon the team opened the stacks and set on the painstaking task of checking all of the fittings in the H2 paths in the stacks. As of yesterday evening, the team was upbeat and working hard to isolate the leakage. We believe that this is the last unsolved problem, and if the repairs are completed successfully, BB2 might be ready for high speed runs later today. Two days left. No pressure.
We love life at the Salt Flats...

Go Bucks! Go Fast!

Giorgio Rizzoni

Buckeye Bullet 2 will be attempting FIA records - report 7 from Salt Flats

2007-10-09T15:29:00.000-04:00

Friends of the Buckeye Bullet:

This is the seventh of a series of reports describing the progress of the Buckeye Bullet 2 at The Bonneville World Finals. The BB2 is a hydrogen fuel cell land speed vehicle designed to break the speed record for electric vehicles at the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah. It is designed and built by Ohio State University students out of the Center for Automotive Research in Columbus, Ohio. More details may be found at:

http://www.buckeyebullet.com/

Dedicated BB2 fans may also enjoy the daily blog:

http://buckeyebullet.blogspot.com/

More information on the Salt Flats may be found on the official website:

http://www.utah.com/playgrounds/bonneville_salt.htm

______________________________________________________________________________

October 9th, 2007, 8 am

The Bullet 2 has been preparing and testing. Yesterday afternoon the first run on the 11-mile course was completed. This was intended to be a test run to evaluate all the changes made in the fuel cell system and vehicle control software over the weekend. The fuel cell system performed as intended, but the inverter reached a limitation that caused the run to be terminated around 200 mph. When I received a phone update the team had just spoken with Tony Davis of Saminco, the sponsor who has provided the inverter used in both Bullet vehicles. I understand that the appropriate changes in the calibration have been implemented, and the vehicle will be ready for another test run this morning. If this run is successful, the next run may be a record attempt. I hope to have an update at the end of the day.

Go Bucks! Go Fast!

Giorgio Rizzoni

[Buckeye Bullet Update] Congratulations From Ohio State President Gordon Gee

2007-10-08T10:28:00.001-04:00

To all Buckeye Bullet team members, sponsors, alumni, family and fans,

Ohio State President Gordon Gee sends his personal congratulations (below) to all of you who are supporting Ohio State's Buckeye Bullet Student Land Speed Racing Team.

Go Bucks!

Pete Miller
http://buckeyebullet.blogspot.com/

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Gee, Gordon
Date: Oct 8, 2007 10:13 AM
Subject: RE: Buckeye Bullet Congratulations
To: Pete Miller, Buckeye Bullet

Dear Pete,

Congratulations! -- to you and our whole team.

What an achievement.

Gordon

From: Pete Mille
Sent: Thursday, October 04, 2007 4:36 PM
Subject: Buckeye Bullet Congratulations

To all Buckeye Bullet 2 sponsors and family members:

Buckeye Bullet 2 became the fastest hydrogen car on earth today when TRC's Roger Schroer piloted the HFC-powered BB2 streamliner to 224 MPH on the Bonneville Salt Flats.

The attached message of congratulations comes from Gil Cloyd, Chairman of the Ohio State University Board of Trustees and Chief Technical Officer at Proctor and Gamble.

You are all a vital part of this exciting accomplishment. Gil's message is meant as much for all of you as it is for Giorgio and his students at Bonneville.

Thank you for you continued support of The Ohio State University Buckeye Bullet Student Land Speed Racing Team!

Go Bucks! Go even faster!!

Pete Miller
Buckeye Bullet

---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Oct 4, 2007 3:54 PM
Subject: Re: Buckeye Bullet 2 Surpasses 200 mph
To: Pete Miller < cruzzen@gmail.com>

Pete:

Terrific!!!! Please pass on my congratulations and VERY deep respect to the entire team! You are amazing and a real credit to OSU.

Gil

[Buckeye Bullet Update] FIA World Speed Record Attempt

2007-10-08T07:14:00.001-04:00

October 8, 2007
Bonneville Salt Flats, UT

Breaking News . . .

The Ohio State University Buckeye Bullet 2 Student Land Speed Racing Team will attempt to set an FIA-sanctioned world land speed record in the world's fasted hydrogen powered car, Buckeye Bullet 2, this week on the Bonneville Salt Flats.

Keep up with all the action on the Buckeye Bullet 2 Blog and the Buckeye Bullet 2 Student Blog.

Educator & Media contact:

Gina Langen
Director of Communications - College of Engineering
The Ohio State University
025 Hitchcock Hall
2070 Neil Ave.
Columbus, OH 43210-1275
Phone: 614-688-4423
Fax: 614-292-1955
E-mail: langen.2@osu.edu

Go Bucks! Go even faster!!

Pete Miller
Buckeye Bullet

Buckeye Bullet 2 will be attempting FIA records - report 6 from Salt Flats

2007-10-08T06:59:00.001-04:00

Friends of the Buckeye Bullet:

This is the sixth of a series of reports describing the progress of the Buckeye Bullet 2 at The Bonneville World Finals. The BB2 is a hydrogen fuel cell land speed vehicle designed to break the speed record for electric vehicles at the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah. It is designed and built by Ohio State University students out of the Center for Automotive Research in Columbus, Ohio. More details may be found at:

http://www.buckeyebullet.com/

Dedicated BB2 fans may also enjoy the daily blog:

http://buckeyebullet.blogspot.com/

More information on the Salt Flats may be found on the official website:

http://www.utah.com/playgrounds/bonneville_salt.htm

______________________________________________________________________________

October 8th, 2007, 6 am

World Finals are over, but the adventure continues. Over the weekend the Bullet2 team has been able to make arrangements to stay at Bonneville through October 12th, together with a small number of other teams that will be attempting FIA sanctioned records. This extended stay is possible through the continued support of the OSU college of engineering, Ballard, Ford, and Cowen Truck Lines. We are grateful to all our sponsors, too numerous to mention here. Approximately half of the team returned to Columbus last night, and 7 veterans (all with Bullet1 experience) have remained on the Salt.

This is the first time that any Bullet team has had the opportunity to set FIA records. The attachment summarizes the existing FIA records. The Bullet 2 is eligible for records in the following categories:

Group VIII – electrical engine, class 3
Group XIV – fuel cell engine, class 3

The record that will be attempted is the flying mile, and in that category the Group VIII record stands at 245.524 (White Lightning, 1999), while the Group XIV record is 83.484 (Opel Zafira).

Yesterday, Sunday, the team set up its pits alongside the other teams at the south end of the Salt Flats (immediately north of I-80).
Time trials should start today, and the weather is expected to cooperate.

Go Bucks! Go Fast!

Giorgio Rizzoni

Buckeye Bullet 2 at Bonneville World Finals - report 5

2007-10-07T20:52:00.001-04:00

Friends of the Buckeye Bullet:

This is the fifth of a series of reports describing the progress of the Buckeye Bullet 2 at The Bonneville World Finals. The BB2 is a hydrogen fuel cell land speed vehicle designed to break the speed record for electric vehicles at the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah. It is designed and built by Ohio State University students out of the Center for Automotive Research in Columbus, Ohio. More details may be found at:

http://www.buckeyebullet.com/

Dedicated BB2 fans may also enjoy the daily blog:

http://buckeyebullet.blogspot.com/

More information on the Salt Flats may be found on the official website:

http://www.utah.com/playgrounds/bonneville_salt.htm

______________________________________________________________________________

October 5th, 2007, 5 pm

After a busy evening and morning devoted to upgrading control software, the team had the BB2 in the queue and ready to go around 10AM.
Unfortunately the queue never moved much as heavy winds and incoming rain forced the officials to close the track and end the meet.
World Finals is over, but there may be some further updates as the team is considering lengthening their stay by a few days to run again early next week.

Stay tuned...

Go Bucks! Go Fast!

Giorgio Rizzoni

[Buckeye Bullet Update] Going for the record . . .

2007-10-07T20:37:00.001-04:00

To all Buckeye Bullet fans,

World Finals are over, but the race for the record continues . . .

Ohio State Buckeye Bullet 2 student Kevin Ponziani reports the team will attempt to break its own 315 MPH land speed record at Bonneville this week. Read Kevin's complete comments on the BB2 Student Blog http://blog.buckeyebullet.com/.

Go Bucks!! Go even faster!!!

Pete Miller
http://buckeyebullet.blogspot.com/

[Buckeye Bullet 2 Update] Official Buckeye Bullet 224 MPH Speed Slip

2007-10-05T08:52:00.001-04:00

To all Buckeye Bullet fans,

This is the official BNI/SCTA speed slip certifying that Buckeye Bullet 2 is the fastest hydrogen car on earth!

Hang it on your office wall, refrigerator or anywhere else. Tell your associates, friends and family that you (and your associates) made history on the Bonneville Salt Flats, October 4, 2007.

Go Bucks! Go even faster!!

Pete Miller
Buckeye Bullet

Giorgio - World Finals - Report 4

2007-10-05T06:32:00.000-04:00

Friends of the Buckeye Bullet:

This is the fourth of a series of reports describing the progress of the Buckeye Bullet 2 at The Bonneville World Finals. The BB2 is a hydrogen fuel cell land speed vehicle designed to break the speed record for electric vehicles at the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah. It is designed and built by Ohio State University students out of the Center for Automotive Research in Columbus, Ohio. More details may be found at:

http://www.buckeyebullet.com/

Dedicated BB2 fans may also enjoy the daily blog:

http://buckeyebullet.blogspot.com/

More information on the Salt Flats may be found on the official website:

http://www.utah.com/playgrounds/bonneville_salt.htm

______________________________________________________________________________

October 4th, 2007, 7 pm

A very brief update. The BB2 had a second run in the afternoon, and it had a good start with a speed of 218 in the second timed mile.
Unfortunately between the second and third timed miles the vehicle lost power and it coasted to a 205 mph third mile.
The team is currently looking into the data acquired during the run to understand what went wrong. This is land speed racing...
A very ugly looking storm went west and south of the Slat Flats in the afternoon, and we hope that the weather holds. If it does, we should be able to have a couple of solid runs on Friday.

Go Bucks! Go Fast!

Giorgio Rizzoni

Buckeye Bullet 2 is the fastest hydrogen powered and fuel cell vehicle on earth!

2007-10-04T15:41:00.000-04:00

Friends of the Buckeye Bullet:
This is the fourth of a series of reports describing the progress of the Buckeye Bullet 2 at The Bonneville World Finals. The BB2 is a hydrogen fuel cell land speed vehicle designed to break the speed record for electric vehicles at the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah. It is designed and built by Ohio State University students out of the Center for Automotive Research in Columbus, Ohio. More details may be found at:

http://www.buckeyebullet.com/

Dedicated BB2 fans may also enjoy the daily blog:

http://buckeyebullet.blogspot.com/

More information on the Salt Flats may be found on the official website:

http://www.utah.com/playgrounds/bonneville_salt.htm

______________________________________________________________________________

October 4th, 2007, 12:45 pm

This morning the BB2 had its first run at the World Finals. In spite of a few glitches, BB2 recorded an exit speed of 224.301 mph, and an average speed on the fifth mile of 223.334 mph. This is the highest speed ever recorded for any vehicle fueled by hydrogen and/or powered by fuel cells.
Ballard Chief Technology Officer Chris Guzy and Ford Hydrogen 999 Program Manager Matt Zuehlk are currently at Bonneville and were able to witness this historic performance. Chris Guzy recently visited the OSU campus to receive the college of engineering Meritorius Service Award on behalf of Ballard, in recognition of the unprecedented support provided by Ballard to the Buckeye Bullet team. He seems to be enjoying the spirit of Bonneville.

The team had a slower start than anticipated due to several minor problems related to the fit of some body parts. Eventually, the BB2 reached the start line around 10:30, and was in line to start around 11. The first mile was painfully slow. The fuel cell system only delivered limited power at first, and Roger Schroer had to reset all the power systems twice. On the third attempt the propulsion system responded, and Roger rocketed away. The exit speed recorded in the attached slip is in fact only representative of a 4-mile run, due to the starting problems. The run was completed at approximately 80% power. There is definitely room for improving this record...

At the end of the run the parachutes did not deploy quite as intended, and the team is now working on improving the chute release systems in expectation of a second run later in the afternoon. Since the parachutes were not fully tested, the next run is likely to also take place at limited power and at a conservative speed of around 250.

If all goes well, Friday runs will be conducted at full power, and we expect to see significantly greater speeds.

Congratulations to the BB2 team!!

Go Bucks! Go fast!

Giorgio Rizzoni

_________________________________________________________
Giorgio Rizzoni
The Ford Motor Company Chair in Electromechanical Systems
Professor of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering
Director, Center for Automotive Research
The Ohio State University
930 Kinnear Road
Columbus, OH 43212

PH:(614) 688-3856
FX: (614) 688-4111
e-mail: rizzoni.1@osu.edu
http://car.eng.ohio-state.edu

Assistant: Pat Hall
PH: (614) 292-5990
e-mail: Hall.420@osu.edu

[Buckeye Bullet 2 Update] Buckeye Bullet 225 MPH - Fasted Hydrogen Car!

2007-10-04T14:38:00.001-04:00

http://blog.buckeyebullet.com/

Student Kevin Ponziani is reporting that Buckeye Bullet 2 reached 225 MPH today in its first run at the Bonneville World Finals. Another run today may be possible.

Go Bucks!!

Pete Miller
Buckeye Bullet

Buckeye Bullet 2 ready for World Finals at Bonneville - report 2

2007-10-04T08:27:00.001-04:00

Friends of the Buckeye Bullet:

This is the second of a series of daily reports describing the progress of the Buckeye Bullet 2 at The Bonneville World Finals. The BB2 is a hydrogen fuel cell land speed vehicle designed to break the speed record for electric vehicles at the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah. It is designed and built by Ohio State University students out of the Center for Automotive Research in Columbus, Ohio. More details may be found at:

http://www.buckeyebullet.com/

Dedicated BB2 fans may also enjoy the daily blog:

http://buckeyebullet.blogspot.com/

More information on the Salt Flats may be found on the official website:

http://www.utah.com/playgrounds/bonneville_salt.htm

______________________________________________________________________________

October 4th, 2007, 5:15 am
Of all the things that could go wrong, I would have never imagined that the hotel would not have an internet connection...
I will find a way to send this message this morning from some other location.
The Bullet 2 passed technical inspection in the morning, but as it was getting ready for its first run, a hydrogen leak was detected by the data logging system. With help from Ballard's Mike Procter the source of the leak was identified and fixed, but the process took some time, and by the time I reached the Salt the long course had been shut down because of high wind. When the team left the pit area at 7pm the vehicle was ready to go. The race course opens at 7 am, and we plan to be ready to tow the Bullet to the starting line at 6:45.
The conditions are excellent right now: clear and calm. I do not have any fresh images for this report, but for those who would like to visualize where we will be in a couple of hours, I am attaching an old picture of a Bonneville sunrise I took in 2003.

Go Bucks! Go fast!

Giorgio Rizzoni

_________________________________________________________
Giorgio Rizzoni
The Ford Motor Company Chair in Electromechanical Systems
Professor of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering
Director, Center for Automotive Research
The Ohio State University
930 Kinnear Road
Columbus, OH 43212

PH:(614) 688-3856
FX: (614) 688-4111
e-mail: rizzoni.1@osu.edu
http://car.eng.ohio-state.edu

Assistant: Pat Hall
PH: (614) 292-5990
e-mail: Hall.420@osu.edu
_________________________________________________________

Buckeye Bullet 2 ready for World Finals at Bonneville - report 1

2007-10-03T09:27:00.001-04:00

Friends of the Buckeye Bullet:

This is the first of a series of daily reports describing the progress of the Buckeye Bullet 2 at The Bonneville World Finals. The BB2 is a hydrogen fuel cell land speed vehicle designed to break the speed record for electric vehicles at the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah. It is designed and built by Ohio State University students out of the Center for Automotive Research in Columbus, Ohio. More details may be found at:

http://www.buckeyebullet.com/

Dedicated BB2 fans may also enjoy the daily blog:

http://buckeyebullet.blogspot.com/

More information on the Salt Flats may be found on the official website:

http://www.utah.com/playgrounds/bonneville_salt.htm

______________________________________________________________________________

October 3rd, 2007
Well, I must confess that I am not in Bonneville yet – I am leaving to join the team later this morning, after teaching my class. So, this report is based on communications from the team. I will issue an update at the end of the day.

The Bullet2 left over the weekend after a series of very successful tests held at TRC in the past several days. All systems appear to be functioning correctly, and the team is upbeat. The vehicle has seen significant changes and improvements since the August runs. Most notably, the electrical system has been completely re-wired, with invaluable assistance provided by Ford, who hosted a small group of students and taught them the fundamentals of creating a robust wiring harness. In addition, the transmission has been fully commissioned and all H2 flow restrictions have been eliminated. The vehicle was ready to go last week, and the tests conducted at TRC validated all the changes made since August.

Half of the team arrived on the Salt Monday, the other half late yesterday evening. The team went through a preliminary tech inspection, and a few very minor fixes need to be implemented. We expect that the vehicle will pass tech inspection this morning and will be cleared for a 250 mph run. SCTA/BNI officials would like to see speeds increased gradually, so it might take a couple of runs to begin to see what kinds of speeds can be achieved. If all goes well, we might have some interesting numbers to report tonight...

Go Bucks! Go fast!

Giorgio Rizzoni

_________________________________________________________
Giorgio Rizzoni
The Ford Motor Company Chair in Electromechanical Systems
Professor of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering
Director, Center for Automotive Research
The Ohio State University
930 Kinnear Road
Columbus, OH 43212

PH:(614) 688-3856
FX: (614) 688-4111
e-mail: rizzoni.1@osu.edu
http://car.eng.ohio-state.edu

Assistant: Pat Hall
PH: (614) 292-5990
e-mail: Hall.420@osu.edu
_________________________________________________________

[Buckeye Bullet 2 Update] Buckeye Bullet on Big Ten Network September 21 (Tomorrow)

2007-09-20T12:39:00.003-04:00

Hello everyone:

Big Ten Network visited the Buckeye Bullet 2 team this morning to interview the students and film them. I had the opportunity to see some of the filming, and, as usual, our students were doing a fantastic job of representing The Ohio State University.

The producer let us know that the segment is expected to air Friday, as in TOMORROW, on the Big Ten Network from 8 to 10 p.m. on a program called Friday Night Tailgate.

Feel free to spread the news, and read more about the Bullet (and see some video from its showing at Speedweek) on the students' blog, http://blog.buckeyebullet.com/. (Note the new Web address.)

Thanks again to the team members, and continued best wishes as you prepare for the World Finals on the Salt Flats Oct. 3-6.

Joan

Joan Slattery Wall
Editor, Engineering Communications
Editor, News in Engineering magazine

Mortar Board National College Senior Honor Society Historical Publications Committee

The Ohio State University College of Engineering
2070 Neil Ave., 025 Hitchcock Hall
Columbus, OH 43210-1278
Phone: (614) 292-4064 Fax: (614) 292-1955
wall.107@osu.edu

Visit News in Engineering at www.engineering.osu.edu/nie/.
Visit Mortar Board at www.mortarboard.org.

Do Something Great!

Buckeye Bullet on Big Ten Network September 21 (Tomorrow)

2007-09-20T12:39:00.001-04:00

Hello everyone:

The producer let us know that the segment is expected to air Friday, as in TOMORROW, on the Big Ten Network from 8 to 10 p.m. on a program called Friday Night Tailgate.

Feel free to spread the news, and read more about the Bullet (and see some video from its showing at Speedweek) on the students' blog, http://blog.buckeyebullet.com/. (Note the new Web address.)

Thanks again to the team members, and continued best wishes as you prepare for the World Finals on the Salt Flats Oct. 3-6.

Joan

Joan Slattery Wall
Editor, Engineering Communications
Editor, News in Engineering magazine

Mortar Board National College Senior Honor Society Historical Publications Committee

Do Something Great!

Connect: News from Ohio State

2007-09-11T10:23:00.001-04:00

If you're having trouble viewing this page, please read Connect online.

The Ohio State University

Search OSU

September 2007

What's going on at Ohio State?

The university's football TV spot features photos taken by students and alumni. Researchers compare year-round school to traditional calendars. A photographer remembers 9/11. Ohio State offers tips for dealing with an overabundance of garden bounty . A couple donates a golf course to the university. Researchers find that certain vegetables are the best cancer fighters. And a pop culture icon shows his work at the Wexner Center.

O-H-I-O!

Wherever Buckeyes go and whatever they do, they bring their school spirit.

A new 30-second TV spot--to air during football games--features photos students, alumni, and fans have taken, posed in the O-H-I-O formation, around the world.

Check out more than 275 O-H-I-O photos from around the world. Get directions on how to send in your own O-H-I-O photo.

And watch the TV spot.

Year-round school?

Now that school has started, teachers and parents may worry that students have spent the summer forgetting everything they'd learned last year.

But a new study challenges that: An Ohio State sociologist has found that students who go to school year-round don't do any better than those in traditional schools.

Find out why.

Remembering 9/11

Six years ago, in the wake of the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center, Ohio State graduate Joel Meyerowitz was the sole photographer granted total access to Ground Zero.

Meyerowitz spent nine months at the site; last year, he published a book of that work (Aftermath: World Trade Center Archive). He recently told the Ohio State Alumni Magazine about the experience--and how the early support of an Ohio State art professor helped him through that time.

Read the magazine story.

Attack of the tomatoes

Tomato salsa. Tomato sauce. Tomato salad. Tomato soup.

A huge crop of tomatoes sounds like a great idea in the spring. But by Labor Day, many gardeners are inundated. Whether you're overloaded with tomatoes, peppers, or green beans, the university's Extension Office has a solution: Dehydrate the vegetables, then enjoy them throughout the fall and winter.

Find out how to dry vegetables.

Hole in one

Ohio State recently got a one-of-a-kind gift: a 193-acre golf course.

Betty and Earl Hawkins donated Hawk's Nest to the university's Agricultural Technical Institute. The course will serve as a lab for students in Ohio State's top-ranked turf-grass management program.

Find out more.

Cancer killers

Heading to the farmers market? Two new Ohio State studies might help guide your choices.

Researchers recently studied the effects of certain foods on colon and oral cancers.

Find out how deeply hued fruits and vegetables killed colon cancer cells in one study and how avocados helped thwart oral cancer in another.

Wegman's world

Photographer William Wegman's famous Weimaraners are pop culture icons. They've appeared on Johnny Carson's Tonight Show and Sesame Street. One was even named "Man of the Year" by the Village Voice.

This fall, more than 200 pieces of Wegman's art--including photos of the dogs--are showcased at the Wexner Center.

Find out more about the Wegman exhibition.

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Electric Motor News n° 27 - Ford Fusion Hydrogen 999

2007-09-04T08:04:00.001-04:00

[Buckeye Bullet 2 Update] New BB & Ford Hydrogen Fusion 999 Video

2007-08-27T12:40:00.001-04:00

New videos of BB2 and Ford Hydrogen Fusion 999 racing at Bonneville National Speed Week are posted on the BB2 Blog. http://buckeyebullet.blogspot.com/

Go Bucks! Go Ford!!,

Pete Miller

[Buckeye Bullet 2 Update] 100+ Bonneville Photos on Buckeye Bullet 2 Blog

2007-08-23T19:42:00.001-04:00

Go inside the Ohio State Buckeye Bullet 2 and Ford Hydrogen Fusion 999 pits at Bonneville National Speed Week through the camera lens of BB2's Kevin Ponziani, Ford's Sam VarnHagen and BB1/2 alum Andrea Barger.

See what it takes to set land speed records with the two fastest hydrogen powered vehicles on earth!

Click here and get ready to be blown away . . . http://buckeyebullet.blogspot.com/

Go Bucks! Go Ford!

Pete Miller
http://buckeyebullet.blogspot.com/

Buckeye Bullet & Fusion 999 in Business Week

2007-08-23T10:25:00.000-04:00

Click here: Ford Fusion 999 Tops 200 Mph

BusinessWeek - USA
Powered entirely by hydrogen fuel cells, the collaboration with Ballard, Roush and Ohio State University represents another significant step toward ...

Nothing’s faster than OSU’s Bullet

2007-08-21T22:11:00.000-04:00

http://oncampus.osu.edu/article.php?id=1557

8-15-2007
By: Adam King

Nothing’s faster than OSU’s Bullet

Isaac Harper, a mechanical engineering senior, wants to see his latest creation drive off into the sunset. To him, it would be the perfect ending for Buckeye Bullet 2, a two-year project to build the fastest hydrogen fuel-powered car.

The BB2 left last week for the Bonneville Salt Flats in Wendover, Utah, to try and set a new land speed record. But even if the car only reaches 75 miles per hour, Harper will be the happiest team leader.

“When you work so hard and long and have such a strong commitment to the project, you develop other goals for yourself and the car,” Harper said. “With BB2, I was there from the very beginning. To see it drive 150 yards on its first field test was an amazing experience. You know the car inside and out because you designed it.

“But the team does have performance goals, which are different from your personal goals.”

Harper was on the Buckeye Bullet 1 team as a freshman, arriving late in the project, but worked his way up to team leader. That car was electric-powered and went on to set land speed records in its class in 2003 and 2004, the latter a new national record of 315 mph.

Buckeye Bullet 2, Harper said, which carried over BB1’s motor and inverter into its design, is capable of potentially reaching 350 mph.

“Whether that happens this upcoming week is yet to be seen,” said Harper before departing for Utah. “Most teams are successful over years and years of development. You can’t just go out and run 350. We’ll increase speed incrementally. We’ll start at 150, then increase in 25 mph increments until the car is potentially maxed out. Every incremental change you learn something new about the car.”

BB2 continues Ohio State’s strong tradition of being one of a handful of universities to build and race alternative-fuel cars. OSU built its first electric racing vehicle, the Smokin’ Buckeye, in the early 1990s and won every national championship. When the racing series died out, one of the sponsors asked if OSU’s team would be interested in building a car that would break 300 mph if the sponsor would supply the engine.

“They did the calculations at the dinner table on a napkin,” Harper said, and BB1, built in 2000, was born.

The unique projects allow OSU undergraduate, graduate and doctoral students as well as high school interns to work with cutting-edge technology and collaborate with top manufacturers, including Ballard Power Systems (hydrogen fuel cells) and Ford Motor Co., which has produced hydrogen cars for more than 10 years.

“The Bullet is on such a scale that you’re completely integrated into the industry when you work on this project,” said Harper, adding the teams put in 80- to 120-hour weeks. “You’re not treated as a student. You’re expected to participate as a professional, come up with your own reports and plans and present them in a professional manner. You get a head start over any other student because it’s basically a full-time job.

“No other schools are crazy enough to do something like this, that’s for sure. OSU is at the forefront of fuel cell technology.”

The partnership with Ford gave students a second vehicle to work on, the Hydrogen Fusion 999, which also is making the trip to Utah.

The four-door Fusion has the same motor and inverter as BB2, but it was built on Ford’s production line. Harper and the team are hoping the 999 will be the first hydrogen fuel cell production-based car to surpass 200 mph.

“That’s been an amazing project working with Ford,” said Ed Hillstrom, a Ph.D. student in mechanical engineering who left a good job with DaimlerChrysler just to work on BB2. “I’ve definitely never seen anything like that between a university and a major corporation working so closely.

“I think Ford wants to get the message out that fuel cells are feasible. Most fuel cell vehicles are small commuter cars, and they want to show that now you can go fast and there’s power to be gained from fuel cells. They’ve learned several things along the way, and they want to take those lessons learned into a production car.”

Both cars will race through Aug. 17, and their progress can be followed at buckeyebullet2.blogspot.com.

BB2: How it works

The hydrogen fuel cells that power the Buckeye Bullet 2 streamline racer emit 700 kilowatts of power. The average family home produces 5 to 10 kw, “so we’re producing enough power to run a small subdivision of homes,” said BB2 team leader Isaac Harper.

To power the car, 600 kw have to dissipate in the form of heat, which means the student engineers had to figure out a way to keep the fuel cells cool, humidified and properly fueled during the process. The solution: Pack 400 pounds of ice into a tub that acts as a radiator and melt the ice onto the cells using a hot water spray.

“We have a lot of work to do before we have a true high-speed run,” said Ed Hillstrom, who worked on cooling and mechanical design. “I’m expecting it will go well. It’s just working out small kinks.

“We’ve been working every hour that is possible for a team to work. Getting more than four hours of sleep a night has been a luxury and now we’re at the point of trying to prove all the hard work."

onCampus Home

TRC Tracks - Ohio State is #1

2007-08-21T17:35:00.000-04:00

The Ohio State University’s students, with support from faculty and advisors from its Center for Automotive Research, along with industry sponsors, are building the world's first hydrogen fuel cell powered landspeed streamliner. The Buckeye Bullet 2 (BB2) will bring hydrogen fuel cell (HFC) powered landspeed racing to the Bonneville Salt Flats for the first time in history this coming August. And if you don’t think engineers are athletes – you should see the BB2 pit crew in action!

The BB2 program is taking landspeed racing to a new level with innovations in driver safety, driveline, electronics and packaging. BB2 is expanding the legacy of its predecessor, the BB1. The BB1 currently holds both national and international landspeed records at 315 mph and 272 mph respectively and was the first electric vehicle to break the 300 mph barrier. The successes and setbacks provided by the Buckeye Bullet 1 program have set the current BB 2 team up for success in 2007. Simulations predict speeds for BB2 in the 350-370 mph range.

Why are we so excited about this project? There are lots of reasons. First – it bodes so well for our future that Ohio State is producing such brilliant students who will be directing and guiding our automotive community in just a few years. Second – who doesn’t love such shining success stories that began with a drawing on a napkin just six years ago? Third – the BB2 vehicle will be testing at TRC Inc. before heading to Bonneville’s Salt Flats. And fourth, the driver of the BB1 who will once again drive the BB2 is TRC Inc’s own performance driver Roger Schroer. Roger is only one of 60 members of the Bonneville 300-MPH club.

Ohio State, Ford, Ballard Power Systems and Roush Industries have teamed up to advance automotive hydrogen fuel cell technology by announcing they will attempt dual land speed records at Bonneville’s Salt Flats this August. Ford consulted on the BB2 and Roush built the carbon fiber body and driver capsule, as well as the 1/3 scale model wind tunnel model. Both are BB2 main sponsors along with Ballard, who provided the fuel cells, and OSU CoE. They join other industry giants in sponsorship of the Bullet, such as International Truck and Engine, Penske Technology, Goodrich, Mac Tools and TRC Inc. Ohio State’s motor and fuel cell will also power the Ford Hydrogen Fusion #999 production-based fuel cell vehicle.

The teams of Ford/OSU/Roush/Ballard have chosen TRC Inc. to test both of these unique cars because of TRC’s close proximity to those industries, the test facility’s ability to test land speed-designed cars, their confidence in capability to safely test fuel-cell vehicles, and TRC Inc’s. sponsorship of Ohio State’s BB1 and BB2 streamliners and Ford’s Hydrogen Fusion 999 racer. The Ford Hydrogen Fusion 999 is the first Original Equipment Manufacturer’s HFC land speed racer and the first high performance HFC-powered car built on a production platform (Fusion).

Watch www.buvckeyebullet.com and www.buckeyebullet.blogspot.com for BB2 team updates, and www.scta-bni.org for more on-the-edge racing at the Salt Flats. Go Bucks, Go Even Faster, and Go Roger!

Official Ford Hydrogen Fusion 999 News Release

2007-08-21T11:37:00.000-04:00

NEWS IMMEDIATE RELEASE

FORD sets land speed record with Ford Fusion Hydrogen 999 fuel cell racecar

Ford Motor Company made history today by reaching 207.279 mph with the Ford Fusion Hydrogen 999, the world’s first production-based hydrogen fuel cell race car.
The Ford Fusion Hydrogen 999 is Ford’s latest environmental innovation, another step on the road toward commercially viable hydrogen fuel cell vehicles.
The car was designed and built by Ford engineers in collaboration with Ohio State University, Ballard Power Systems and Roush.

WENDOVER, Utah, USA, August 16 – Ford Motor Company [NYSE: F] today became the world’s first automaker to set a land speed record for a production-based fuel cell powered car. The Ford Fusion Hydrogen 999 fuel cell car raced to 207.297 mph at the Bonneville Salt Flats in Wendover, Utah to set the record.

The Ford "999" is the world’s first and only production vehicle-based fuel cell race car. It was built in collaboration with Ballard Power Systems, Roush and Ohio State University and is one of two vehicles demonstrating the potential of fuel cell technology. Ford researchers also are supporting student engineers from Ohio State University on its Buckeye Bullet 2, a streamliner-type fuel cell-powered racer attempting 300+ mph.

“What we’ve accomplished is nothing short of an industry first,” said Gerhard Schmidt, vice president, Research & Advanced Engineering for Ford Motor Company. “No other automaker in the world has come close. We are excited to have accomplished something never before done. We established this project to advance fuel-cell-powered vehicles and to do what has never been done before; and we did it.”

Schmidt said Ford’s historic run at Bonneville will further expand the company's technological horizons with fuel cell-powered vehicles, because the use of hydrogen as a fuel could someday play a key role in meeting the energy needs of the transportation sector. The Ford Fusion Hydrogen 999 is Ford’s latest environmental innovation and is another step on the road toward commercially viable hydrogen fuel cell vehicles.

The speed was reached during a run at the Bonneville Nationals, which are being held from Aug. 10-17.

The Ford Fusion Hydrogen 999 land speed record vehicle was designed by Ford engineers and built by Roush in Allen Park, Mich. Ford engineers leveraged the 2004 Buckeye Bullet’s electric motor, while Ballard Power Systems supplied the 400 kW hydrogen fuel cells. Ford retiree Rick Byrnes, a veteran Bonneville racer, piloted the Ford Fusion Hydrogen 999 on its record breaking run.

Ohio State students have designed their streamliner, dubbed Buckeye Bullet 2, from the ground up. Ballard donated the hydrogen fuel cells for Ohio State’s car, Roush its engineering services and Ford has provided overall project coordination and expertise in fuel cell drivetrains.

In 2004, Ohio State students set the unlimited land speed record for an electric vehicle by running 314 mph in the first Buckeye Bullet, dubbed BB1.

Ford Fusion Hydrogen 999 Part of a Broader Effort
The Ford Fusion Hydrogen 999 shows one of the ways Ford is advancing environmental innovation with the goal of offering vehicles with zero impact on the environment. Multiple technologies, including hydrogen fuel cells, hybrids, E85 ethanol, clean diesels, bio-diesels, advanced engine and transmission technologies allow a flexible approach that balances customer needs, environmental impact and shareholder interests.

Ford Motor Company currently has a fleet of 30 hydrogen-powered Focus fuel cell vehicles on the road as part of a worldwide, seven-city program to conduct real world testing of fuel cell technology. The 30-car fleet has accumulated nearly 580,000 miles since its inception in 2005.

Ford also is conducting tests with the world’s first plug-in hybrid electric vehicle, the Ford Edge with HySeries Drive. The Ford Edge with HySeries Drive uses a series electric drivetrain with an onboard hydrogen fuel cell generator to give the vehicle a range of 225 miles with zero emissions.

Ford currently offers gasoline-electric hybrids including the Escape Hybrid and Mercury Mariner Hybrid. The company will also offer hybrid versions of the Ford Fusion and Mercury Milan in 2008.

About Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Mich., manufactures or distributes automobiles in 200 markets across six continents. With about 260,000 employees and about 100 plants worldwide, the company’s core and affiliated automotive brands include Ford, Jaguar, Land Rover, Lincoln, Mercury, Volvo and Mazda. The company provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. For more information regarding Ford’s products, please visit www.fordvehicles.com

*Contact:*	Nick Twork	Said Deep
	313-598-0481	313-594-0942
	Ntwork1@ford.com	sdeep@ford.com

[Buckeye Bullet 2 Update] Ford Hydrogen Fusion 999 Makes FOX News

2007-08-20T11:02:00.000-04:00

The Ford Hydrogen Fusion 999 Racer made the Geraldo Rivera Show last night on FOX. To see a copy of the segment, click here.

Jim Lynch
Director of Media Relations
The Ohio State University

Buckeye Bullet 2 Surpasses 200 mph

2007-08-18T23:26:00.000-04:00

The Ohio State University

Ohio State engineering students today piloted their Buckeye Bullet 2 vehicle, a hydrogen fuel cell powered streamliner racer, over 200 mph, marking an historic milestone for alternative fuel vehicles.

On their final racing run at the 2007 Speed Week at Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah, the student-designed and built racer registered 201 mph, at 9,500 rpms in second gear. The Buckeye Bullet 2 team's goals were to verify that the propulsion system works properly, that the vehicle is safe, and to successfully run the vehicle for three miles, reaching 175 mph. In their final run attempt, the car achieved 201 mph as it exited the three-mile mark on the seven mile racing track.

In addition to the BB2 surpassing the 200 mph mark, Ford Motor Company set their own speed records on Wednesday, racing the Ford Fusion 999 land speed record vehicle, designed by Ford engineers and fabricated and built by Roush, to 207 mph. Ohio State students provided the design for Ford's 770 hp electric motor, with Ballard supplying the hydrogen fuel cells.

"This is a great day for the Buckeye Bullet team and our extended supporters and partners," said Giorgio Rizzoni, team advisor and professor of mechanical engineering at Ohio State. "In my 20-plus years in the automotive industry, I've never experienced anything close to the team spirit and camaraderie I have witnessed this week as engineers from Ford and Ballard worked shoulder-to-shoulder with our student engineers to achieve this goal of surpassing 200 mph."

This achievement sets the stage for the BB2 team to return to Bonneville for the 2007 Racing World Finals in October to test the hydrogen powered vehicle again, with the goal of breaking 300 mph, as the student team enhances the vehicle's systems.

Contact: Contact Gina Langen langen.2@osu.edu for a complete list of BB2 student team members and advisors.

Ford HFC Fusion 999 in LA Times

2007-08-18T04:52:00.000-04:00

Read about the Ford Hydrogen Fusion 999 in the LA Times.

BB2 - 201 MPH

2007-08-17T14:47:00.001-04:00

8uckeye Bullet 2 raced to 201 MPH on its 2nd and final run of the meet.

Fw: Brief update

2007-08-17T11:35:00.001-04:00

Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T

-----Original Message-----
From: Giorgio Rizzoni <rizzoni.1@osu.edu>

Date: Fri, 17 Aug 2007 09:00:18
To:Pete Miller <cruzzen@gmail.com>, Gina Langen <langen.2@osu.edu>
Subject: Brief update

BB2 is in line.
SCTA is close except for record runs and BB2.
They will let us do two runs (maybe three?) if we keep moving.
Keep your fingers crossed.
G

Buckeye Bullet/Ford 999 in New York Times

2007-08-17T07:01:00.001-04:00

Ford Fuel Cell Car Goes 200 M.P.H. at the Bonneville Salt Flats

By Richard S. Chang

Tags: bonneville, environment, Ford, hydrogen

The Ford Hydrogen Fusion 999 on the salt flats in Utah. (Photograph by Sam VarnHagen/Ford Motor Co.)

"We just went 207 m.p.h."

Those were the first words from Mujeeb Ijaz when I reached his cellphone yesterday, at 5:25 p.m. at the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah.

It's Speed Week at Bonneville, a yearly ritual of triple-digit one-upmanship across an oblivion of white salt. One racer has already crashed at 170 m.p.h. Mr. Ijaz, manager of fuel cell vehicle engineering at Ford, and his team are running a fuel cell-powered electric car. Announced to the world in July, the Ford Hydrogen Fusion 999 is named after the car that Henry Ford drove to a land speed record in 1904. Mr. Ford went 91.37 m.p.h. This week, Mr. Ijaz's goal was to hit 200.

Mission accomplished.

Mr. Ijaz is ecstatic: "We set the first record for fastest fuel cell electric car. We had a five-mile run. We were at 204 m.p.h. at mile four and 207 m.p.h. at the mile-five cool down line. We have Champagne going on right now. I wish you were here."

Champagne? Me, too.

"The Buckeye Bullet is getting ready to go for 350 right now," he adds. "Can I call you back in half-an-hour?"

In 2004, students from Ohio State University brought a streamliner, the official name for a class of vehicles that look like cruise missiles, to Bonneville. Led by Georgio Rizzoni, professor of mechanical engineering and director of the University's Center for Automotive Research, the Buckeye Bullet hit 314.958 m.p.h. and set a record for electric-powered vehicles.

The following year, the students approached Ford for help in producing a followup vehicle. This time, they wanted to replace the batteries with fuel cells. Ford came on board and set them up with Ballard Power Systems to supply the fuel cell stacks and Roush Racing to build the chassis. During the process, Mr. Ijaz thought: Why don't we do it ourselves?

August 2006: he proposed the project to the powers that be and went to Bonneville for the first time to scout the location.

"I found it to be a heartland of activity," he says when we reconnect later in the evening. The Buckeye Bullet 2 had qualified for its top speed run, likely taking place today or tomorrow. "It's people who have built these cars in their personal garages and working through problems on their own. It's getting down to basics. I found it to be the perfect place to present a powertrain that people are skeptical about. By laying down 200 m.p.h. in a fuel cell car, we can show how real it could be."

When I was told that Ford was going to be at Bonneville running its hydrogen fuel cell Fusion, my first thought was… Ford has a fuel cell program?

Mr. Ijaz agreed that the program has been under the radar. There was some hype in January when Ford took a fuel cell hybrid electric vehicle based on its Edge S.U.V., called the Edge with HySeries Drive, to the White House, but that seemed to be more of a public relations stunt. The green movement was arriving at its peak. General Motors was in shambles. Detroit was reaching out to Washington, D.C. for help.

But Mr. Ijaz says that a second HySeries vehicle is in the works. This one will be all-aluminum and have an extended drive time. That's one of the reasons why Ford's fuel cell team is at Speed Week, to study weight, aerodynamics, and powertrain efficiency.

"The root of powertrain design," he says, "is money per kilowatt of power. Our goal is to reduce the loads at top speeds. We want to shrink it to one-third the amount of normal power in order to reduce cost."

"We know that fuel cell technology is too expensive right now. We're just working on a strategy to reduce costs. The HySeries was one part. Bonneville was one part."

The Ford Hydrogen Fusion 999 is built from production body panels around a tube-frame chassis. It is powered by an electric motor, which runs completely on hydrogen fuel cells. It was completed in six months.

Mr. Ijaz says that he never had a doubt that the fuel cell car could be completed in time. Hitting 200 m.p.h.? Maybe just a little.

"There are so many variables to Bonneville," he says. Earlier in the day, I spoke to a journalist who had just returned from Speed Week and told me, "You need to wear at least four pairs of sunglasses." I don't think he was kidding.

Salt is another problem.

"Today we had a connector on a battery corrode so much that we couldn't run," Mr. Ijaz adds. "It was a 12-volt battery. It was kind of comical. A simple 12-volt battery. It's a really harsh environment. Yesterday it was 120 degrees."

On Sunday, the Hydrogen Fusion 999 hit 161 m.p.h. on the short course. On Tuesday, it hit 184 m.p.h., setting itself up for a run at what's considered Bonneville's five-mile long course and history.

"We gave birth to a racing milestone that no one can take away," Mr. Ijaz says. "I told our vice president after the 207 m.p.h. run, 'When's the next trip to Bonneville?' It's been a great experience."

A team of Ford engineers celebrate. (Photograph by Sam VarnHagen/Ford Motor Co..)

Ford Hydrogen Fusion 999 Photos & News Release

2007-08-16T13:39:00.001-04:00

Click here for more photos and to read the official Ford news release on Autobloggreen.com

[Buckeye Bullet 2 Update] Ford - 207.297 MPH

2007-08-16T08:20:00.001-04:00

http://puregreencars.com/news/Green-Cars-News/Other-Green-Car-News/FordFusion-Hydrogen999-Sets-Land-Speed-Record.html

Breaking News
Bonneville Salt Flats
August 15, 2007

The Ford, Ohio State, Ballard, Roush designed and built Ford Hydrogen Fusion 999 racer went 207.297 MPH on the Bonneville Salt Flats yesterday. This is the fastest speed ever recorded for a hydrogen fuel cell powered vehicle.

Read more at the above link.

Pete Miller
Buckeye Bullet 2

Detroit Free Press Story

2007-08-16T06:54:00.000-04:00

Click here. Our Buckeye Bullet students are featured in this Detroit Free Press story.

Hundreds of news stories featuring Ohio State's Buckeye Bullet 2 student land speed racing team have been published worldwide.

Giorgio reports that many news and camera teams have been covering the BB2 team at Bonneville.

New Bonneville Photos

2007-08-16T06:26:00.000-04:00

Click here to see a new album of Bonneville and Buckeye Bullet 2 photos posted last night by Ohio State Buckeye Bullet 1 & 2 alum Andrea Barger. Andrea helped design mechanical components and the Ballard hydrogen fuel cell cooling system.

Andrea is now a customer service engineer for Cummins and assigned to support Cummins customers in Southeast Asia. Cummins is a global power leader and designs, manufactures, distributes and services engines and related technologies worldwide.

Thanks, Andrea!

[Buckeye Bullet 2 Update] Bonneville: Both cars turn off course early

2007-08-15T13:41:00.000-04:00

1:35 pm EDST

Giorgio reports from Bonneville that both Buckeye Bullet 2 and Ford HFC Fusion 999 ran in the last few minutes, but both cars turned off the course within a matter of seconds with unknown problems.

How fast do you think BB2 will go in the end? Vote on our blog at http://buckeyebullet.blogspot.com/

More from Giorgio at Bonneville later today.

Go Bucks! Go Ford, Ballard & Roush!! Go faster!!!

Pete Miller
Buckeye Bullet 2
http://buckeyebullet.blogspot.com/

[Buckeye Bullet 2 Update] Bonneville Update

2007-08-15T12:58:00.001-04:00

12:57 PM EDST

Giorgio reports from the starting line that racing was delayed by a spin out and broken glass on the track. Both BB2 and Ford HFC Fusion 999 should run within the next 30 minutes.

Pete Miller
Buckeye Bullet 2
http://buckeyebullet.blogspot.com/

[Buckeye Bullet 2 Update] BB2 & Ford HF 999 on Bonneville Starting Line

2007-08-15T11:56:00.000-04:00

11:52 AM EDST

Giorgio reports that the Ford Hydrogen Fusion 999 is within 6 positions of the starting line on the Bonneville Salt Flats. He is in Great White holding the spot directly behind Ford for BB2 which is being towed into position. Both cars should run within the hour.

Pete Miller
http://buckeyebullet.blogspot.com/

Buckeye Bullet Bonneville Photos - August 14

2007-08-14T21:58:00.001-04:00

Photos by Giorgio Rizzoni

[Buckeye Bullet 2 Update] Buckeye Bullet 1st 150 mph run successful as planned

2007-08-14T18:10:00.001-04:00

6:00 pm EDST

Giorgio reports that Buckeye Bullet 2 attained its planned speed of 150 mph during its first run down the Salt at Bonneville this afternoon. This report came as Giorgio and Don Butler were sitting in 'Great White', the BB2 push vehicle, while keeping a position as they inched toward the starting line for run number 2!

The Ford Hydrogen Fusion 999 attained 184 mph in its second run (the fastest speed ever recorded so far for an HFC powered vehicle) . . . well on the way to setting the first hydrogen fuel cell production vehicle land speed record over 200 mph.

More from Giorgio and lots of photos later tonight on the Buckeye Bullet Blog http://buckeyebullet.blogspot.com/ !

Go Bucks . . . Go Ford, Ballard and Roush!! Go even faster!!!

Pete Miller
Buckeye Bullet 2

BuckeyeBullet2: Second report from the Salt Flats

2007-08-14T10:25:00.001-04:00

Friends of the Buckeye Bullet:

This is the second of a series of daily reports describing the progress of the Buckeye Bullet 2. The BB2 is a hydrogen fuel cell land speed vehicle designed to break the speed record for electric vehicles at the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah. It is designed and built by Ohio State University students out of the Center for Automotive Research in Columbus, Ohio.

Please feel free to circulate these reports as you see fit.

August 14th
As I type away in my hotel room, the BB2 is inching its way to the front of the line hoping to complete its first run at Speedweek 2007. The goals for this run are simple: to verify that the propulsion system works properly and that the vehicle is safe and drivable. The plan is for Roger Schroer to take the motor to 9000 rpm in first gear, and to sustain the resulting speed (around 150 mph) for a couple of miles. We expect that the run will take place around noon local time.

August 13th
Monday was spent working on numerous details, including improving the fit of the carbon fiber body on the chassis and revising some of the control software. By the end of the day the motor had been spun a couple of times, the body had been fit to everyone's satisfaction, and the vehicle was finally refueled. The attached pictures document some of the achievements. The team is on excellent form and spirit, and everyone is looking forward to the first run.

Ford made two short practice runs during the day and is still fixing minor bugs. The 999 Hydrogen Fusion should run again on Tuesday.

Go Bucks, Go Fast!
Giorgio

[Buckeye Bullet 2 Update] Ohio State's Buckeye Bullet Racing at Bonneville

2007-08-14T08:37:00.001-04:00

http://buckeyebullet.blogspot.com/
http://buckeyebullet2.blogspot.com/

Ohio State's Buckeye Bullet 2 is racing at Bonneville. Keep up with daily events and photos at the two links above.

Go Bucks! Go 350 mph on hydrogen fuel cells!!

Pete Miller

Buckeye Bullet 2: First report from the Salt Flats

2007-08-14T08:21:00.001-04:00

Friends of the Buckeye Bullet:

This is the first of a series of daily reports describing the progress of the Buckeye Bullet 2. The BB2 is a hydrogen fuel cell land speed vehicle designed to break the speed record for electric vehicles at the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah. It is designed and built by Ohio State University students out of the Center for Automotive Research in Columbus, Ohio. More details may be found at:

http://www.buckeyebullet.com/

Dedicated BB2 fans may also enjoy the blog:

http://buckeyebullet.blogspot.com/

More information on the Salt Flats may be found on the official website:

http://www.utah.com/playgrounds/bonneville_salt.htm

August 12th
The wind has finally died on a warm Sunday evening, as the BB2 team makes the final adjustments of the day in preparation for what could be its inaugural run on Monday morning. The BB2 team has been at the Salt Flats since Thursday, and has been working steadily to prepare the vehicle to pass technical inspection and make the first run. The team has the privilege of sharing facilities in the pit lane with Ford Motor Company and the other partners in this adventure, Ballard and Roush. The OSU and Ford teams have set up their work area at the north end, somewhere between the 3- and 4-mile markers. In addition to trailers and other support vehicles, a refueling trailer capable of providing the needed hydrogen and helox (40% O2 60% Helium mix) is located near the pit area. The Ford-OSU area has drawn a lot of attention, and we expect to have much media attention in the next few days.

Earlier in the day Ford had a successful run with its Hydrogen Fuel Cell powered fusion 999:

http://www.autobloggreen.com/2007/07/17/video-fords-hydrogen-fusion-999-hits-the-track-for-the-first-t/

reaching a speed of over 160 mph during a warm-up run. This is already the fastest speed ever recorded for a hydrogen fuel cell vehicle. The 999 team had made plans to return to the course in the afternoon, but strong winds forced officials to close the course. The 999 will run early tomorrow morning, and is aiming to beat the existing hydrogen powered vehicle record held by BMW (with a hydrogen fueled combustion engine) at 182 mph for the flying mile.

Stay tuned for another update tomorrow.

Go Bucks, Go Fast!
Giorgio

P.S.: two photos of the bodywork are attached – I will have better pictures of the whole vehicle tomorrow.

Students try to break record - Campus

2007-07-24T13:23:00.000-04:00

Students try to break record - Campus

[Buckeye Bullet 2 Update] Buckeye Bullet 2 Student Blog

2007-07-18T15:24:00.000-04:00

Dear Supporters of the Buckeye Bullet Program,

We've been getting plenty of questions about how the Buckeye Bullet 2 is coming along, as we're getting ready to race on the salt flats in August for speed week, so I've decided I would take a few minutes periodically to keep everyone updated on where we are with the car. We thought it would also be nice to have a log of what we're doing here on a day to day basis in the shop to have everything up and running. More of a build blog, if you will. You can expect plenty of photos and videos, for those of you who would prefer to see our progress instead of reading about it. I won't send any more messages about it, but the blog will continue to be updated with our progress. Enjoy!
Check out the BB2 build blog at: http://buckeyebullet2.blogspot.com/

Sincerely,
Kevin Ponziani
Buckeye Bullet Team

[Buckeye Bullet 2 Update] VIDEO: Ford's Hydrogen Fusion 999 hits TRC track for the first time

2007-07-17T16:30:00.000-04:00

To all Buckeye Bullet & Ford's Hydrogen Fusion 999 fans,

Go inside TRC and join the Ford Hydrogen Fusion 999 team as they began testing last weekend. Ford HFC engineers share the Hydrogen Fusion 999 design details with you and all their fans. Then watch the Ford Hydrogen Fusion 999's first run.

http://www.autobloggreen.com/2007/07/17/video-fords-hydrogen-fusion-999-hits-the-track-for-the-first-t/

Pete

--
Pete Miller - Fundraising Chair
The Ohio State University
Buckeye Bullet 2
Student Land Speed Racing Team
www.BuckeyeBullet.com
www.BuckeyeBullet.Blogspot.com
(614) 284-8563 anytime

[Buckeye Bullet 2 Update] Ford promotes Ohio State, BB2 & Hydrogen Fusion 999 worldwide

2007-07-11T07:33:00.001-04:00

To all Buckeye Bullet fans,

Ford Global Marketing issued its first news release last night promoting Ohio State, Buckeye Bullet 2 and the Ford Hydrogen Fusion 999 Racer (Ohio State students are on the Hydrogen Fusion 999 design team).

Here are the first two news links:

Autobloggreen.com (photos):
http://www.autobloggreen.com/2007/07/10/live-shots-of-the-ford-hydrogen-fusion-999/

The Detroit News: http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070710/UPDATE/707100416/1396

The Ohio State University, Ford Motor Company, Ballard Power Systems and Roush Industries are the major sponsors of both BB2 and Fusion 999.

Go Bucks! Go even faster !!

Pete
--
Pete Miller - Fundraising Chair
The Ohio State University
Buckeye Bullet 2
Student Land Speed Racing Team
www.BuckeyeBullet.com
www.BuckeyeBullet.Blogspot.com

[Buckeye Bullet 2 Update] Fwd: Buckeye Bullet 2 News Update Issue 2

2007-06-09T07:09:00.001-04:00

Buckeye Bullet 2 News Update Issue 2: http://www.roadtobonneville.com/BB2%20Newsletters/BB2%20Newsletter%20Issue%20002%2006092007.pdf

To all Buckeye Bullet fans everywhere,

Follow the link above to issue 2 of the Buckeye Bullet 2 News Update newsletter. In this issue:

Breaking news: Ohio State, Ford, Ballard and Roush team to advance automotive HFC technology
Ohio State BB2 and Ford Fusion HySPEED to attempt dual land speed records
Exclusive: First look at Ford Fusion HySPEED
BB2 powers to 290,000 watts in first tests
NSF honors two BB2 teammates
Much . . . much more

Media contacts:

The Ohio State University - Gina Langen, langen.2@osu.edu , 614-688-4423
Ford Motor Company - Nick Twork, ntwork1@ford.com, 313-598-0481
Ballard Power Systems - Rebecca Young, rebecca.young@ballard.com
Roush Industries - Greg Fraker, gmfrak@roushind.com, 313-425-2970

Please forward this e-mail
opt in/opt out - reply with instructions

Go Bucks! Go even faster!!

Pete Miller

--
Pete Miller - Fundraising Chair
The Ohio State University
Buckeye Bullet 2
Student Land Speed Racing Team
www.BuckeyeBullet.com
www.BuckeyeBullet.Blogspot.com
(614) 284-8563 anytime

Final report from ChallengeX competition

2007-06-07T12:35:00.000-04:00

This is the fifth and final of a series of reports that will be issued from the ChallengeX competition to relate the progress of our ChallengeX Buckeyes at the General Motors Milford Proving Ground (MPG).
Please feel free to distribute this report as you see fit.

The final results are in for the 2007 ChallengeX competition! One more time, the CX Buckeyes are coming home with plenty of hardware…

First, the overall competition scores.

6th, San Diego State University, 657 points (out of 1000)
5th, Pennsylvania State University, 687
4th, The Ohio State University, 734
3rd, Virginia Tech, 809
2nd, Wisconsin, 888
1st, Mississippi State University, 896

In addition to a strong 4th place finish, OSU also won the following Special Awards:

BEST NOISE (yes, with a Diesel engine!!! This is what control can do for you…)
DYNAMIC DRIVE QUALITY AND CONSUMER ACCEPTABILITY (yes, with a Diesel engine!!! This is what control can do for you…)
OUTREACH AWARD FOR BEST SPONSORED EVENTS (the team took the vehicle to the UM-OSU football game, and to the Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young concert at Polaris. That was a combined potential audience of about 200,000 people…)
2nd PLACE, MATHWORKS: CROSSOVER TO MODEL BASED DESIGN AWARD
HONORABLE MENTION: BEST STUDENT DRIVER TIME IN HANDLING EVENT (go Squealing John Neal!)
NSF OUSTANDING FACULTY ADVISOR AWARD

The total cash value of these awards is $22,750. Not a bad day at the office…

The team is absolutely delighted with these results. While it might have been possible to score a few more points here and there and perhaps challenge for third place, the fact is that OSU produced the vehicle that gave the best driving quality experience, combining excellent responsiveness and drivability with very low noise. The team achieved these goals through the development of effective control strategies, so, even though OSU was not recognized specifically in this category, we know that all the hard work done on the development of the control systems quietly paid off!

We will not know the detailed results for some time (for example, actual fuel consumption and emissions). I may issue a post-event report with the details if they are posted in the next couple of weeks.

GO BUCKS!

Giorgio Rizzoni

Ohio State ChallengeX Team at GM Milford Proving Grounds

2007-06-07T12:00:00.001-04:00

BB2's Giorgio Rizzoni Wins NSF Award

2007-06-06T09:14:00.001-04:00

To all Buckeye Bullet fans,

Buckeye Bullet 2 faculty advisor, Giorgio Rizzoni has won the 2007 National Science Foundation Faculty Advisor Award at the National ChallengeX competition. Read the details on the Buckeye Bullet 2 Blog http://buckeyebullet.blogspot.com/ "Report 4 from ChallengeX".

Dr. Rizzoni is Director of The Ohio State University Center for Automotive Research and faculty advisor to the Ohio State Buckeye Bullet 2 and ChallengeX student automotive teams.

Congratulations, Giorgio!!

Media Contact: Gina Langen, langen.2@osu.edu, 614-688-4423

Go Bucks!

--
Pete Miller - Fundraising Chair
The Ohio State University
Buckeye Bullet 2
Student Land Speed Racing Team
www.BuckeyeBullet.com
www.BuckeyeBullet.Blogspot.com
(614) 284-8563 anytime

Report 4 from ChallengeX

2007-06-06T09:08:00.001-04:00

This is the fourth of a series of reports that will be issued from the ChallengeX competition to relate the progress of our ChallengeX Buckeyes at the General Motors Milford Proving Ground (MPG). Please feel free to distribute this report as you see fit.

DAY 5 – June 4
Well, the judges decided that selected teams could repeat the trailer tow event (for a variety of reasons), and after the event was completed the OSU time, while very close to the top, ended up being third. Still an excellent result – one more time the Buckeyes place near the top of a dynamic event, remaining in what is clearly the very top group of contenders. Not much else happened on Monday, other than preparation for the presentations, which will take place on Tuesday and Wednesday. Just one note on the drive quality event. The drivability of our hybrid Equinox was much appreciated: some of the comments heard from the judges: "silky smooth…", "move over Toyota – here comes Ohio State!"…
Overall the team is very upbeat and proud of the results thus far..

DAY 6 – June 5
Tuesday was the first day of official presentations. Our first stint came at 2:20, when Jason Disalvo (ECE senior) and Kerem Koprubasi (ME graduate student) presented the OSU Control Strategy. This was a very difficult event, as the judges are all experienced control engineers, and the questions at the end of the presentation were quite challenging. The control strategy is one of our strong suits, and we hope to have done well. Later in the afternoon, John Neal (ECE senior) and Mike Arnett (ME graduate student) gave the Technical Presentation, an overview of the entire vehicle focusing on the advanced technologies. The presentation was extremely smooth and the judges ran out of questions…
In the evening the many sponsors of the competition, including DoE and GM, but also many others such as The Mathworks, BP and Chevron, Ballard, etc. hosted a dinner at a very elegant country club in Plymouth (the adjacent golf course looked particularly attractive to me!). At the end of the dinner various awards were distributed. The last was the traditional National Science Foundation Faculty Advisor Award, which comes in two flavors: incoming faculty advisor (3 years or fewer at the helm of a team), and long-term advisor. Prof. Marshall Molen of Mississippi State won the incoming category, and deservedly so. He is the proverbial gentleman and scholar and has led Mississippi State from nowhere to a third place finish last year (MSU will be very strong this year as well). The long-term award held a surprise. I did not know that the team had nominated me, and was surprised and delighted when my name was called. Not only is this an excellent "PR moment" for Ohio State, but the award is accompanied by a $15,000 check issued by the National Science Foundation to the team. Our Hybrid Buckeyes make us all proud. Thank goodness Florida is not in this competition…

DAY 7 – June
I am writing these notes as I am getting ready to leave for Detroit Metro Airport. I am flying back to Italy, and will be back in Pavia a few hours before the final awards ceremony. There I will be in close contact with the team and I will issue the final report around noon.
Today we have a busy day! Azher Salikuddin (junior, MSE) and Kris Sevel (ME graduate student) will give the Outreach Presentation. Mike Arnett and Kerem Koprubasi will give the Mathworks: Crossover to Model-based Design presentation . Jason Disalvo and Kerem Koprubasi will give the Freescale Semiconductor: Silicon on the Move Award Presentation. Finally, Kris Sevel and Eric Schacht (ECE sophomore) will be in charge of the static events: Consumer Acceptability and Vehicle Testing Complete, in which a team of judges will inspect the vehicle and evaluate its design and consumer acceptability.
In the evening the organizers have planned a "sports night" in which the students will compete in a variety of games for the fun of it.
Tomorrow morning the final awards…

Stay tuned and GO BUCKS!

Giorgio Rizzoni

Buckeye Bullet 2 Roars to Life

2007-06-05T17:33:00.001-04:00

The Ohio State University Center for Automotive Research (CAR), May 31 - June 2, 2007:

Buckeye Bullet 2, the world's first hydrogen fuel cell powered streamliner, roared to life at 9:15 pm on May 31, 2007. The mighty Ballard twin fuel cell modules generated 290,000 watts of power, the equivalent of 390 HP, at the end of the first test series.

This first test validated that the power train can generate nearly 60% of the 500,000 watts and 700 HP that will be needed to power BB2 at 350 MPH at Bonneville.

The Ohio State student engineering team, designers and builders of BB2, pronounced this first test a complete success.

BB2 teammates from Ballard Power Systems (Michael Procter, Colin Keddie & Paul Mann) and from Ford's Fuel Cell Engineering Group (Chad Allison) checked out the fuel cells that the students installed in the BB2 vehicle.
BB2 student team leader, Isaac Harper, ordered the vehicle integration test to begin.
BB2 electrical team leader, Ben Sensheimer, and data acquisition specialist, Kevin Ponziani, threw the power switch "on" and automotive history took a giant leap forward.

Click here for first photos of BB2 under test in the BB2 Race Shop at CAR.

Go Bucks! Go even faster!!

Penske Technology Honors Buckeye Bullet 2 Students

2007-06-04T09:41:00.001-04:00

John Moloney and all of our teammates at The Penske Technology Group, www.pensketechnology.com, have honored The Ohio State University Buckeye Bullet 2 student land speed racing team by emblazoning the BB2 image on their company's race shirts.

PTG has the most advanced wind tunnel facility in North America. Most of the NASCAR teams in NC, as well Penske IRL cars driven by Sam Hornish, Jr. and Hélio Castroneves are just some of the professional and amateur racers who test at PTG.

We are proud to say that Ohio State's Buckeye Bullet is the only land speed team that tests at PTG.

Thank you, Penske Technology, for your support and sponsorship over the past seven years, from Day 1 of BB1 to today, on the brink of BB2 going 350 mph on the Bonneville Salt Flats.

Go Bucks! Go even faster!!

News from the ChallengeX Competition - Report 3

2007-06-03T19:51:00.001-04:00

This is the third of a series of reports that will be issued from the ChallengeX competition to relate the progress of our ChallengeX Buckeyes at the General Motors Milford Proving Ground (MPG). Please feel free to distribute this report as you see fit.

DAY 4 – June 3
Well, the on-road emissions test was completed uneventfully. We will know the outcome in a few days. Immediately after the emissions event, the CXBuckeyes were off to the AVL Drive Quality Event. The goal of this event is to objectively evaluate the driving quality of the vehicle through a set of driving modes that include acceleration, cruising and braking. Vehicle longitudinal acceleration and perceived acceleration in the cabin are measured and used to assess the vehicle "drivability". This event was a real success for our team. The electric launch, engine start-stop and torque blending features worked seamlessly, and we received repeated compliments on the vehicle drivability from GM and AVL engineers. While the final scoring has not been decided yet, the consensus was that our vehicle was rated the best of the ones to have completed the event.
Next in line, after another fine GM lunch (I do not believe that GM staff experience the same quality on an average day…), was the Trailer Towing Performance Event. The main feature of this test is to demonstrate the ability to tow a 2,500-lb load over a 16% grade at reasonable speed. Each team is to repeat the test three times. Kris Sevel (ME graduate student) had started the third loop when a violent thunderstorm hit the proving ground and the organizers decided to abort the attempt and reschedule the trial. Kris had already beaten the fastest time up the hill (held by Wisconsin until then) by over 1.5 seconds (19.5 vs. 22) in one of the previous runs. We will have to repeat the entire event when the roads have dried up some. Oh well. In all fairness, given that rivers of water were pouring down the 16% grade, this was probably the right decision.
The rain did not seem to create any problems with respect to the Dynamic Consumer Acceptability Event, so the vehicle moved on to this event, the only other dynamic test left. The objective of this test is to assess and score, subjectively, the vehicle noise, vibration and harshness, and ride and handling. This test is conducted by two independent (GM) evaluators. Being a subjective test, it is hard to tell how the vehicle is judged – we think our vehicle drives like a production Equinox! Both runs were completed successfully in just under one hour.
At the end of the day, the organizers requested that OSU attempt the trailer tow again, even though the ground was still quite wet at the time. The result of the test was excellent – this event is scored on the worst run, and Kris drove the vehicle with similar results each time, scoring a worst time of 20.5 seconds, which is about 4 seconds better than the next best time. Unfortunately, though, this result is not final, as Wisconsin filed a complaint about having to do the test in the rain (they ran earlier today when the ground was slightly wet – long before the downpour), and asking for a repeat trial. We'll see what happens. Sounds like a case of a poor loser to me...
In summary, the team exceeded all expectations by completing all dynamic events one day ahead of schedule. We are now working on the technical presentations, which start on Tuesday.

GO BUCKS!
Giorgio Rizzoni

One note about Saturday evening – In my second report I neglected to mention that at the completion of the Vehicle Dynamics Handling Event, GM hosted an unusual event they called the Student Driving Experience . Thankfully, faculty were also invited! MPG made available 51 GM vehicle in current production, plus a few that will be hitting the showrooms next model year. The teams spent the next two-plus hours test driving a variety of GM products including five different hybrid vehicles (Aura, Malibu, new and old Saturn Vue, Tahoe – with the 2-mode hybrid system to be introduced in the fall). It was a very successful experience, capped by a very nice barbecue by the side of the test track.

News from the ChallengeX Competition - Report 2

2007-06-03T10:04:00.001-04:00

This is the second of a series of reports that will be issued from the ChallengeX competition to relate the progress of our ChallengeX Buckeyes at the General Motors Milford Proving Ground (MPG). Please feel free to distribute this report as you see fit.

DAY 3 – June 2
The On-Road Energy Use Event was completed successfully. The vehicle – driven by Eric Diamond, ECE senior – behaved as intended, and having driven it myself for a few miles I must say that the engine automatic start-stop feature coupled with the rear axle electric launch must have saved a fair amount of fuel. Anyway, the unofficial refueling (in which the tank is removed from the vehicle and weighed) amounted to approximately two gallons for a test that covered over 70 miles of stop and go traffic, highway driving, and which also included some hilly terrain. We will not know the official figure until the end of the competition, but our impression is that we improved significantly over last year's fuel consumption figures, which were already 30% better than the production Equinox.
After lunch (graciously hosted by GM in their cafeteria), the teams moved to "Black Lake", the vehicle dynamics testing area, where team pictures were taken and the Vehicle Dynamics Handling Event took place. This event is an autocross contest, in which each vehicle has three attempts at completing a winding course marked by pylons (cones). Penalties are given for knocking down pylons and for not stopping in the designated area at the end of the run. Each team could take advantage of a professional driver supplied by GM for one of the tree runs. A GM pro took out a production Equinox recording a time of just under 65 seconds. A second driver followed in a Corvette Z06 recording a time of 56 s. That was fun to watch! At the end of the trial, three teams were very closed to one another: Wisconsin, Mississippi State and Ohio State, with times of approximately 65, 66 and 67 seconds, respectively. The next best was about 70 seconds. Needless to say, the best time was recorded by the GM driver in each case. However, OSU's John Neal, ECE senior, had a personal best time of 70 seconds, by far the fastest time recorded by any student!
One more time, the OSU vehicle has demonstrated performance very close to that of the production vehicle. At this time the three teams mentioned above are the ones that are consistently outperforming the others. It is a long way to go yet, but so far the Buckeyes are looking good!
One note for the technically inclined. All three of the top performing vehicles have similar architectures, employing an advanced Diesel engine (all Opel 1.9 JTDs) and a dual electric architecture. Hmm… Maybe there is something to be said about this powertrain configuration.

DAY 4 – June 3
As I am writing these notes, the team is in line to participate in the On-Road Emission testing Event. GM has chosen to use a Semtech in-vehicle gas analyzer system for this test, so emissions will be measured during a real-world driving cycle. We are now waiting to have the system connected to our vehicle exhaust system, and should complete the event this morning (it's 8:15 local time). This is a very important event with a score equal to the energy use event, and is a particularly difficult test for all Diesel equipped teams because of the NOX emissions, which tend to be the biggest hurdle for a Diesel engine. Since last year the team has refined the engine control strategy, using the electrical powertrain to reduce the load on the engine (and hence the NOX emissions), improving the Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) strategy, and eliminating idle emissions through the start-stop system. Further, the team has also implemented a dual lean NOX trap exhaust system. We hope to see significantly reduced emissions figures with respect to last year.

If all goes well, we should also be able to attempt the rest of the dynamic events today. These include the AVL Drive Quality Event, in which vehicle drivability is measured, and the Trailer Towing Performance Event , which include a 16% grade and a 2500-lb trailer. The last dynamic event is the Dynamic Consumer Acceptability. More on all these in the next report. Meanwhile, let's have a cheer for our high-performance, energy-efficient and low-emissions Buckeyes!

Stay tuned for updates, and GO BUCKS!

Giorgio Rizzoni

--
Pete Miller - Fundraising Chair
The Ohio State University
Buckeye Bullet 2
Student Land Speed Racing Team
www.BuckeyeBullet.com
www.BuckeyeBullet.Blogspot.com
(614) 284-8563 anytime

News from ChallengeX Competition - Report 1

2007-06-03T10:02:00.001-04:00

This is the first of a series of reports that will be issued from the ChallengeX competition to relate the progress of our ChallengeX Buckeyes at the General Motors Milford Proving Ground (MPG). Please feel free to distribute this report as you see fit.

ChallengeX is a four-year competition sponsored by the US Department of Energy, General Motors Corporations, and several other organizations and companies from the US and Canada.

17 American and Canadian universities now entering their second year in the race to convert a gasoline-based 2005 Chevrolet Equinox SUV into a hybrid vehicle maximizing fuel economy, reducing emissions ratings and maintaining the safety and performance of the original vehicle.

The Ohio State team's architecture involves replacing the stock engine and transmission with a GM 1.9 liter turbodiesel and an automatic 6-speed transmission. Coupled to the engine is a belted starter/alternator (a small motor); further, the rear axle is powered by a 50kW AC induction drive. The electrical systems are powered by a 300-V NiMH battery pack.

The team has had access to some of the most advanced tools and design philosophies in industry, and must create a fusion of expertise in:

mechanical engineering
electrical and electronics engineering
control and systems engineering
engine control and exhaust aftertreatment
management, finance, and public relations.

DAY 1 – May 31
The team, led by Dr. Shawn Midlam-Mohler, arrived at the competition to find that the vehicle – shipped separately – was ready to pass final technical inspection. The team passed technical inspection on the same day without any difficulties. After passing tech inspection the team started to prepare for qualifying, including braking and dynamic safety evaluation – tests aimed at determining the safe operation of the vehicle. Unfortunately, the engine refused to start. The day ended at 8pm without any resolution of the problem.

DAY 2 – June 1
On the morning of the second day the team focused on troubleshooting the source of the problem; after independent testing determined that the fuel pump and injection system operated correctly, it was determined that the source of the problem was a tap made in to the crank position sensor to provide a feedforward system for the belted starter-alternator active vibration damping system was not viewed very favorably by the engine control unit. As soon as the signal splice was eliminated the engine started without any problem, and the team could proceed to qualifying and to the acceleration test. Qualifying: braking and dynamic safety evaluation was completed without any problems, and the acceleration test was especially successful, recoding the fastest ever 0-60 for the vehicle: 9.95s, slightly better than the published 0-60 time for a stock Equinox. Unfortunately, at the end of the acceleration run, one of the half shafts on the front axle sheared off. We can thank the aggressive driving of "hot shot" Eric Schacht, ECE undergraduate, for the outstanding acceleration performance...

The half shafts had been friction welded from two parts, one from the original Equinox, the other from an Opel Vectra. The vehicle had to be towed back to the pits, but the acceleration event was successfully completed. The support staff of the GM MPG took charge of the needed repairs immediately, and the broken half shaft was in the hands of the welding shop by 11AM.

Just before lunch, Rick Wagoner, President and CEO of General Motors, paid a visit to the teams, and gave a brief but inspirational speech. He then answered various questions from the students and joined the team captains (including our own Kris Sevel) for lunch. We were told that he was having so much fun he ended up being late for all his engagements the rest of the day...

Well, the lunch break was what it took for the GM welding wizards to return a fully functional half shaft. By 4:30 the vehicle was back in one piece, and heading out for the next challenges; the traction control and noise events.

The Traction Control Event measures vehicle traction on a low coefficient of friction surface by accelerating the vehicle from a complete stop and best accelerating through a straight line while maintaining vehicle control. The CXBuckeyes recorded a very low time (second lowest at that time, but more vehicles need to complete the test).

The Noise Event involves measuring exterior noise using the SAE J-1470 test, and interior noise using a binaural measuring system inside the vehicle. The OSU vehicle had excellent noise characteristics, comparable to those of a gasoline engine powered vehicle, in part thanks to the extent of electric launch on start up, to the excellent sound insulation package, and to Kris Sevel's active noise and vibration cancellation system based on the belted started alternator. Kris recently defended his M.S. Thesis on this subject, and has already published a couple of papers on his work.

That pretty much wrapped the day, and the team enjoyed a quiet dinner in Milford before retiring for the night.

DAY 3 – June 2
This morning the team divided into two groups. One group went to the MPG to continue with the dynamic events. The other half stayed at the hotel to work on various presentations that will be delivered on Tuesday and Wednesday.

At the time of writing this note, the vehicle has been on the road completing the On-Road Energy Use Event. This event consists of over two hours of driving under a variety of conditions simulating real-world driving. The introduction of the automatic engine start-stop system and the fine tuning of the energy management strategy should result in improvements over last year's energy consumption figures. If the test is completed successfully,

OSU will be one of only two or three teams that have completed these many events. West Virginia and Tennessee also left with OSU at 8 this morning to complete the event, but both returned to the pits due to technical problems.If this event is successfully completed, there may be time to complete another event in the afternoon, possibly on-road emissions testing.

Stay tuned for updates, and GO BUCKS!

Giorgio Rizzoni

--
Pete Miller - Fundraising Chair
The Ohio State University
Buckeye Bullet 2
Student Land Speed Racing Team
www.BuckeyeBullet.com
www.BuckeyeBullet.Blogspot.com
(614) 284-8563 anytime

CX Competition update

2007-06-01T21:27:00.001-04:00

All

As promised, here's the first update from Milford….

As the end of the second day of competition approaches, all of the 17 teams have passed technical inspection, and almost all are dome with the pre-qualifying events.

Tech checks not only for mechanical and electrical safety, but also ensures that the airbag, computer, and air conditioning systems are active and functioning without error. Once tech is completed, each team must first pass the braking event (proving that the vehicle will stop without regenerative braking, and also that the anti-lock system is still functional); and then proceed to dynamic safety. This entails a professional GM driver putting the vehicle through low and high speed serpentine courses and more. The goal of this event is to certify that the vehicle is safe and controllable both at low and high speeds.

The final prequalifying event, and the first that counts towards dynamic event points is the 0-60 and 50-70 mph accelerations. During the accelerations, the teams are graded not only against each other, but also the control vehicle (a stock Chevy Equinox), and their Vehicle Technical Specifications (VTS) derived from computer simulators.

The OSU team passed tech inspection with relative ease then proceeded to the other above mentioned events. Braking and controllability went well, with no problems reported. On the first 0-60 attempt, Eric Schacht drove the vehicle to an impressive 9.95 sec. time; then followed with a 6.64 sec 50-70 time. As Schacht rounded the track and prepared for the second of the five runs allowed, tragedy struck! Using the planned method of power braking (holding both the brake and accelerator until the turbo charger spools up, then releasing the brake) the driver's side half shaft was twisted in two at the place that has been named "half shaft alley" as several other schools have also broken shafts at the same place. The reason for the common failure is simply because there is no production shaft that will mate to both the Equinox, and whatever choice each team made in transmission.

All is not lost, as I write this, thanks to the excellent craftsmanship of the GM welders, and the speedy wrenches of the team, the Equinox is back on the road in a matter of a few hours, competing in the limited traction event. This event takes place on a watered basalt tile surface that offers the traction of snow. Once given the OK, the vehicle will break the beam of a timing light, then proceed down the course. The goal of course is to make it to the other end of the course as fast as possible.

A new addition to the competition this year is the LIVE UPDATE WEBSITE http://media.gm.com/us/powertrain/en/news/events/challengex/2007/index.html

John Neal
Challenge X Electrical Systems
President OSU Chapter of SAE
www.osuchallengex.com
john@osuchallengex.com
cell: 614-595-4499

More on Ohio State & Ford LSR Teaming

2007-05-24T11:47:00.001-04:00

To all Buckeye Bullet fans,

This is the big secret that we have not been able to tell you until now.

For the past year, The Ohio State University Student Land Speed Racing Team has been working on two new land speed cars, Buckeye Bullet 2 and the Ford Fusion XV1. Last night in an exclusive posting on AutoBlogGreen.com , the Ford Motor Company published the first in what will be many stories about this unique teaming.

I will let Ford take the lead on telling the world about the Ford Fusion XV1. All I can add is that our students are deeply involved in the design and development of the Ford project, while at the same time designing and building Buckeye Bullet 2.

Why Ford and Ohio State are teaming:

BB2 & XV1 are other steps in the process of making HFC powered vehicles a reality
BB2 represents The Ohio State College of Engineering's unique educational programs designed to meet the needs of those industries, such as the automotive industry, which are experiencing business & technology paradigm shifts.
The Ohio State College of Engineering fills a need in automotive research to test HFC technology at the limits of its performance. Ford . . . other BB2 sponsors . . . everyone will benefit from the BB2 student research project.
The Ohio State Buckeye Bullet students have land speed racing experience and success
Ford is a world leader in HFC vehicle technology
Ford jump starts the competition to hire the best and brightest engineering graduates . . .anywhere!

Ohio State's motto is "Do Something Great!" This is how a dozen college students, out of over 50,000 fellow Ohio State students, are doing something really great to further research, improve our environment and society . . . to change the world.

Thank you for your support of The Ohio State University Buckeye Bullet 2 Student Land Speed Racing Team!

Go Bucks! Go even faster!!

Pete
--
Pete Miller - Fundraising Chair
The Ohio State University
Buckeye Bullet 2
Student Land Speed Racing Team
www.BuckeyeBullet.com
www.BuckeyeBullet.Blogspot.com

Ford and Ohio State building Fusion & BB2 to capture fuel cell land speed record

2007-05-24T06:23:00.001-04:00

To all Buckeye Bullet fans,

Ford Motor Company and The Ohio State University are teaming up to try and capture double land speed records for fuel cell powered vehicles. AutoblogGreen has the exclusive story on the Fusion XV1 and Buckeye Bullet 2!

ABG Exclusive: Ford and OSU team up for fuel cell land speed record

Posted May 23rd 2007 10:32PM by Sam Abuelsamid
Filed under: Motorsports, Green , Tech, Ford

Ford and Ohio State University are teaming up to attempt a double land speed record for fuel cell-powered vehicles. Ohio State already holds the land speed record for electrically driven vehicles at 315 mph with the battery-powered Buckeye Bullet. Now they are providing the motor and fuel cell that will power the Ford Fusion XV1 and the Buckeye Bullet 2 when they head out to Bonneville to try and set dual records for fuel cell powered vehicles in the unlimited and production classes. AutoblogGreen has the information and will be providing more coverage over the coming weeks and months.

[Source: AutoblogGreen]

--
Pete Miller - Fundraising Chair
The Ohio State University
Buckeye Bullet 2
Student Land Speed Racing Team
www.BuckeyeBullet.com
www.BuckeyeBullet.Blogspot.com
(614) 284-8563 anytime

Buckeye Bullet 2 Presentation at Los Alamos

2007-05-22T18:44:00.001-04:00

Editor's note: Nigel McQuin is one of the world's foremost electrical power designers. Nigel is also the designer of the Buckeye Bullet custom electric motor, the heart of the world's fastest electric car and the world's first HFC streamliner. As he travels the world in his work, he also tells of the story of our Buckeye Bullet students. Here is Nigel's latest report.

Gentlemen,

During a visit to the Los Alamos National Laboratory, yesterday 05/14/2007, I was pleased to make a presentation on the electric car land-speed-record project to the staff of the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory and the Superconductivity Technology Center.

Some 30 people attended, with a large number of questions and comments. They were very impressed by the achievements of the team, and their ability to covet such results in such a disciplined time schedule. They wish us well with the BB II effort.

They are also looking to recruit some spirited electrical graduates/post-grad students for their efforts here, is anyone interested in moving to NM?

The Los Alamos National Laboratory generator is rated at 1400 MW, and provides pulsed power to the experiments in the National High-Magnetic Field Laboratory (NHMFL).

In 1994 I qualified the short-circuit current carrying capabilities of the inter-tie transformers for this pulsed power supply, when I was still running the high-power electrical test laboratory in East Pittsburgh, PA. It was good to see the electrical equipment installed, and pleased to hear that it continues to provide a reliable power source after 13 years of continuous service.

I continue to be pleased to act as an ambassador for the project, and spreading the word to the technical community.

Regards,

Nigel P. McQuin
President, McQuin Electrical Power Consulting, Inc. (MEPC)
N.P.McQuin@ieee.org or NPMcQuin@iee.org
Tele/fax: 1 (412) 824-2165

Click here to read Nigel's 2006 report: Buckeye Bullet Presentation at EML Symposium in Potsdam, Brandenburg, Germany

Ohio State Student Team Builds Fuel Cell Speed Record Racer for Bonneville

2007-05-07T19:30:00.000-04:00

Click on story to enlarge for reading

Reprinted by permission from The Hydrogen & Fuel Cell Letter
Thank you!

Bonneville's Best Hear Buckeye Bullet 2 Presentation

2007-05-03T07:05:00.001-04:00

Their names represent the best and fastest Bonneville racing families and teams. Tom Burkland, Rick Vesco, Terry Nish and many others were to hear and see a Buckeye Bullet 2 presentation given by BB2 fans and supporters & USFRA members, Kent & Brent Singleton, at last night's Utah Salt Flats Racing Association (USFRA) meeting in Salt Lake City.

The Buckeye Bullet students have been working closely with Tom Burkland and with Bonneville Nationals officials in California and Salt Lake City for more than a year on the design and safety features of Buckeye Bullet 2, the world's first hydrogen fuel cell powered land speed streamliner. Tom is going after the all-time, wheel driven land speed record of 458 mph and has a top speed of over 430 mph on The Salt.

UTSFA will host a "Welcoming Celebration" for the BB2 student team in Salt Lake City on the Saturday immediately following Bonneville 2007 National Speed Week.

Thanks, Kent & Brent!!

Pete

--
Pete Miller - Fundraising Chair
The Ohio State University
Buckeye Bullet 2
Student Land Speed Racing Team
www.BuckeyeBullet.com
www.BuckeyeBullet.Blogspot.com
(614) 284-8563 anytime

Roger's New Ride

2007-04-30T16:45:00.000-04:00

Bonneville 300 MPH Club member and TRC lead professional driving instructor, Roger Schroer, climbs behind the wheel of the world's first hydrogen fuel cell powered land speed streamliner, Buckeye Bullet 2, at The Ohio State University's Center for Automotive Research in Columbus, OH.

Roger drove Buckeye Bullet 1 to both the U.S. and International Electric Land Speed Records at Bonneville in 2004. Now he and the Ohio State student engineering team hope to beat their U.S. land speed record and top speed of 321 mph this fall at Bonneville with BB2.

Driver Roger Schroer takes his first look from the BB2 cockpit

L-R Buckeye Bullet student team leader Isaac Harper and student data acquisition specialist Kevin Ponziani work with Roger to fit the new BB2 digital cockpit.

Autotech Daily: Buckeye Speed

2007-04-26T11:49:00.000-04:00

Click here or on article to enlarge for reading. Republished with permission of Autotech Daily.

Buckeye Bullet 2 Newsletter #1

2007-04-23T14:16:00.001-04:00

To all Buckeye Bullet Fans,

Welcome to the first issue of the Buckeye Bullet 2 Newsletter that is published by the Ohio State Buckeye Bullet 2 Student Land Speed Racing Team whenever news happens. In this first issue:

Buckeye Bullet Races Toward Another Record - Ohio State College of Engineering Worldwide News Release
First image of Buckeye Bullet 2, the world's first hydrogen fuel cell powered land speed streamliner
Meet BB2 Student Team Leader Isaac Harper
Ohio State engineering students & the Ohio Supercomputer Center work together to design BB2's aerodynamic shape
Inside the BB2 Team - Do you have what it takes?
Much, much more.

You can download it here.

Thank you for supporting the Ohio State Buckeye Bullet 2 Student Land Speed Racing Team!

Go Bucks! Go even faster!!

Buckeye Bullet Races Toward Another Record

2007-04-20T15:31:00.000-04:00

PRESS RELEASE
The Ohio State University College of Engineering, Columbus, OH, April 20, 2007

The Ohio State College of Engineering Buckeye Bullet student land speed racing team has set off to conquer its own record.

Buckeye Bullet 2 is the second generation of the student-designed and -built, alternative fuel race car. In 2004, the first Bullet, which ran on batteries, set a new land speed record with an average time of 315 mph at the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah. Buckeye Bullet 2 will run on hydrogen fuel cells. It is the world’s first hydrogen fuel cell powered land speed racing research vehicle.

The students plan to finish building the Bullet 2 in time for more record-setting land speed attempts in Bonneville this August. Already they have completed the chassis with assistance from EWI on the design, materials selection and construction. In addition, they developed a computer rendering of the car to model its aerodynamics and then tested it in February at Penske Technology Group’s state-of-the-art wind tunnel in Mooresville, N.C. The tunnel is used to test NASCAR stock cars but was converted specifically for testing the Buckeye Bullet. Now, the students are working closely with industry partners to integrate the fuel cells into the vehicle.

“Every day the Bullet teaches us leadership and project management skills that we can take into the real world, where we can have an immediate impact,” says team leader Isaac Harper, a senior majoring in mechanical engineering.

The Buckeye Bullet project is designed to prepare College of Engineering students for technical leadership positions in global engineering companies by providing engineering, business, teamwork and leadership training. Even before they graduate, students on the team are taking advantage of its learning opportunities.

For example, Harper, used software donated by 3D Vision and SolidWorks to three-dimensionally model the vehicle’s body. And Kimberly Stevens, a senior majoring in aeronautical and astronautical engineering, used software accessible at the Ohio Supercomputer Center to model real-world aerodynamics for the vehicle in preparation for the wind tunnel tests.

With her experience, Stevens has obtained two jobs: a co-op position with Honda Research and Development and a research job at Ohio State’s Department of Aerospace Engineering.

“I am taking some numerical aerodynamics classes, and having access to the Ohio Supercomputer Center’s resources allows me to apply what I'm learning in class for something practical and cool: making a land speed car that goes 350 mph! I have actually grown to thoroughly enjoy computational fluid dynamics and plan to make a career out of it. In the more near-term future, I will start a master's degree in 2008,” she said.

The research nature of the Bullet project enables students to work with technology that will benefit the economy, environment and society. In addition, the students partner with more than 50 companies from various industries, providing research data and receiving engineering support in return.

“With the BB2 being the very first hydrogen fuel cell powered streamliner, there are an entirely different set of new challenges that no one has ever solved,” Harper says. “While the fuel cells themselves have been in production for some time, they were never intended for 350 mph. So with the added performance comes a whole set of exciting and new challenges. You can’t Google ‘hydrogen fuel cell streamliner’ and get back a list of companies that supply pieces and parts. We have had to look outside the box and into different industries for many of the solutions required.”

The Buckeye Bullet is one of many student projects at Ohio State’s Center for Automotive Research, where interdisciplinary research is focused on advanced powertrain systems for reduced fuel consumption and emissions; intelligent transportation systems and autonomous vehicles; noise, vibrations and dynamics; chassis systems; and vehicle and occupant safety. The 35,000-square-foot center offers advanced experimental facilities that include engine and vehicle dynamometers; vibration, noise and acoustics laboratories; intelligent and autonomous vehicle laboratories; engine fluid mechanics and combustion research facilities; and electric, hybrid-electric propulsion, fuel cell and electrochemical energy storage research facilities.

For more information about the Buckeye Bullet 2, including its progress and sponsor information, visit its Web site at www.buckeyebullet.com.

Contact: David Cooke, Buckeye Bullet 2 Mechanical Design, Media Contact and Fiscal Officer, dcooke@buckeyebullet.com, (740) 601-2031

Ohio State's Challenge X Team at SAE World Congress

2007-04-15T12:18:00.000-04:00

Ohio State’s hybrid vehicle student team will be attending the Society of Automotive Engineers’ 2007 World Congress beginning April 16 with engineers and professionals from all over the world.

The Challenge X team has been invited to be one of the more than 800 exhibiting companies at the event.

Ohio State 3rd ranking industry-financed U.S. Research University

2007-02-12T18:39:00.000-05:00

Ohio State edges ahead of other public universities nationally to 8th in research spending

COLUMBUS – The Ohio State University's push to become one of the nation's top public research universities is gaining momentum, according to newly released federal statistics documenting university research expenditures nationwide.

The university placed 8th among the nation's public institutions in total research expenditures in fiscal year 2005, reflecting a steady climb from 9th place last year and 10th the previous year. The rankings, which are based on the latest available statistics, showed Ohio State passing such respected universities as Cornell and the University of California at Berkeley since last year.

Among all research universities, public and private, Ohio State has moved up from 15th place to 12th, surpassing Cornell, Berkeley and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

"This is very, very good news," said university President Karen A. Holbrook.
"It's not only a reflection of our commitment to becoming a top-ranked institution, but it showcases the excellence of our faculty, students, staff and facilities."

Ohio State's total research expenditures were $609 million in 2005, an increase of 17 percent over 2004's $518 million.

The university continues to be a national leader in conducting industry-financed research, moving up to 3rd place from 6th place last year.

"The competition for research dollars is fierce," said Robert McGrath, Ohio State's senior vice president for research. "It's clear that Ohio State's faculty are doing remarkably well in attracting industry funding for research and development in what is essentially a flat funding environment recovering from a three-year decline."

Using a multiplier developed by the U.S. Department of Commerce—indicating that for every $1 million spent on research, 32 jobs are created in the local economy—Ohio State's $609 million of research spending has generated almost 20,000 jobs in central Ohio.

McGrath attributes some of the expenditure increase to the state of Ohio's Third Frontier Project, a 10-year, $1.1 billion initiative to expand Ohio's high-tech research capabilities and promote start-up companies to create high-paying jobs.

"Ohio's investments in research and development certainly serve as a catalyst for increasing the university's partnerships with industry and stimulate ways to transfer innovative technology to the marketplace. Those research dollars leverage many more from federal and industrial sponsors that eventually benefit not only the university, but the local and statewide economy."

Buckeye Bullet 2 Team Test Vehicle at Penske Wind Tunnel

2007-02-08T07:27:00.000-05:00

The Buckeye Bullet 2 student team will test the world's first hydrogen fuel-cell powered land speed race car at the Penske Technology Group’s state-of-the-art wind tunnel in Mooresville, N.C., this Friday. The tunnel is used to test NASCAR stock cars but is being converted specifically for the Ohio State College of Engineering students’ use.

Buckeye Bullet 2 is the second generation of the student-built, alternative fuel race car. In 2004, the first Bullet, which ran on electricity, set a new land speed record with an average time of 315 mph at the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah. Buckeye Bullet 2 will run on hydrogen fuel cells. It is the world’s first hydrogen fuel cell powered land speed racing research vehicle.

Kim Stevens, a senior aerospace engineering student, is the lead designer of Buckeye Bullet 2; she created the Bullet’s aerodynamic shape at Ohio Supercomputer Center. Team leader Isaac Harper, a senior in mechanical engineering, and Kevin Ponziani, also a senior, who is studying computer science and engineering, will travel to the testing site as well. Ponziani says the main objective of the testing is to validate what the students have been simulating with computers.

“If our simulations are confirmed in the wind tunnel, the body of the car can be constructed,” he says.

The Penske wind tunnel testing is the last step toward building the body of the Bullet.

The Bullet team members will learn how the wind resistance affects the speed of the car; they hope the body style they have created will allow the least amount of wind resistance.

At the same time, students from North Carolina’s American Renaissance Middle School will be touring the Penske wind tunnel station and watching what the Buckeyes are doing. The Ohio State students have created a presentation for the middle school students to further their knowledge of the world of engineering.

The students plan to finish building the Bullet 2 in time for more record-setting land speed attempts in Bonneville this August.

Contact: Gina Langen, OSU College of Engineering, (614) 688-4423, langen.2@osu.edu

Buckeye Bullet on FutureCar

2007-02-08T07:06:00.000-05:00

Hope you enjoyed seeing, Isaac, Ben, Kim, Andrea, David & Giorgio on Discovery Channel in Future Car!

Bo Bucks! Go even faster!!

Buckeye Bullet on Discovery Channel, Feb 7, 8:00 pm

2007-01-30T15:04:00.001-05:00

To all Buckeye Bullet fans,

Mark your calendars…

The Discovery Channel has scheduled the airing of the "FutureCar" series for which the Buckeye Bullet team was interviewed and filmed last summer. According to their information, the BB footage will be part of the first evening's episode of the series, scheduled to air on Wed., Feb. 7 at 8:00 pm on the Discovery Channel.

Pete Miller

Ohio State honors Buckeye Bullet's Kim Stevens . . . again!

2007-01-17T10:30:00.001-05:00

To all Buckeye Bullet fans,

The Buckeye Bullet gal who starred in Ohio State's BCS national championship game half-tme TV promo is Kim Stevens. Now The Ohio State College of Engineering honors Kim with a solo photo on the front of The Ohio State College of Engineering website!

Kim is an aerospace engineering student who leads the aerodynamic design of Buckeye Bullet 2, using the Ohio Super Computer Center's best software and hardware.

If that is not enough responsibility, Kim will be leading a team of BB2 students down to NASCAR country, Mooresville, NC, in a few weeks, where she and the Penske Technology Group's top engineers will be windtunnel testing a one-third scale model of BB2, the world's first hydrogen fuel-cell powered land speed racing machine. The model was donated by Roush Industries. Move over Jimmy Johnson, Kim Stevens is in town!

Thank you, Ohio State and The Ohio State College of Engineering, for honoring our gal . . . and our entire team!

Go Bucks! Go even faster!!

The Hydrogen Electric Racing Federation(TM) Introduces the 'Hydrogen 500'(TM)

2007-01-12T20:39:00.000-05:00

The Future of Racing' Unveiled to Auto Industry Leaders and Motorsport Dignitaries in Detroit

The Hydrogen Electric Racing Federation(TM) Introduces the 'Hydrogen 500'(TM) and a New Racing Series That Will Boast the Most Technologically Advanced Racing Machines in the World

DETROIT, Jan 10, 2007 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- In a potentially historic occasion for the automobile industry and international motor sport, a new racing entity -- the Hydrogen Electric Racing Federation -- unveiled "The Future of Racing"(TM) and embarked on a compelling first step into the realm of on-track competition for hydrogen electric fuel cell-powered racing machines here today.

Speaking to an impressive gathering of leading auto industry executives from Audi, DaimlerChrysler, Ford, General Motors, Honda, Hyundai, Nissan and Toyota, senior executives from Bridgestone-Firestone and Michelin, as well as such motor sports luminaries as Tony George, the CEO of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and the Indy Racing League and Scott Atherton, President and CEO of the American Le Mans Series. Peter M. DeLorenzo, the President and CEO of the Hydrogen Electric Racing Federation, introduced "The Future of Racing" in a speech at The Townsend Hotel in suburban Birmingham.

The dawn of a New Age for Automotive Propulsion.

"We are at the dawn of a new age of propulsion for the automobile," said DeLorenzo, a longtime auto industry opinion leader and influential motor sport expert. "From this day forward, we will see internal combustion engines in automobiles inevitably give way to electric power sources. And whether these take the form of electric vehicles with an internal combustion engine (ICE) assist, full electric plug-in vehicles, or electric vehicles powered by hydrogen fuel cells -- we are at the crossroads of the future of the automobile as we know it. The time has come for the automobile industry to embrace the future vigorously -- and in no uncertain terms," DeLorenzo continued.

"The concept of racing hydrogen fuel cell-powered machines is unprecedented and historic, simply because for the first time in many, many years, racing will undertake a key role in the development of radical new technologies for production vehicles that are still on the horizon," DeLorenzo said.

Pressing the "Reset" Button for Racing.

"With the electrification of the automobile at hand, racing needs a new idea," said DeLorenzo, "It is time for the automobile industry to take its advanced research away from the reassuring glare of the computer screen and out of the sterile environment of the research laboratory, and let innovation and technical creativity run free and unfettered on the racetrack -- with the most advanced automotive technology in the world -- hydrogen electric fuel cell-powered vehicles."

"I believe it is time to press the 'reset' button for racing," said DeLorenzo. "Not only to usher in a new era of creativity and innovation to the sport, but also to enable racing to take its rightful place again as the principal conduit for the transference of advanced technologies and innovations directly to our future production vehicles."

"The Hydrogen 500"(TM)

DeLorenzo then introduced the "Hydrogen 500"(TM) -- a concept developed specifically for machines powered by hydrogen electric fuel cells. The Hydrogen Electric Racing Federation plans on presenting on-track competition for electric vehicles powered by hydrogen fuel cells beginning in 2009, with additional races, including international events in 2010 and 2011.

DeLorenzo closed his remarks by saying: "The onset of the electrification of the automobile is presenting us with a rare, perhaps once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to accelerate the development schedule of the hydrogen electric fuel cell-powered vehicle, while at the same time allowing us to reinvent and reposition the sport of racing to be more relevant than it has been in decades.

I'm confident that we will look back on this historic day and see it for the truly momentous event that it was -- the day when the Future of Racing was born."

Hydrogen Electric Racing Federation. The Hydrogen Electric Racing Federation(TM) (HERF(TM)) is a new racing organization dedicated to helping the world's leading automobile manufacturers accelerate the development of hydrogen fuel cell-powered electric vehicles through sanctioned competition.

The concept behind the Hydrogen Electric Racing Federation is to provide a competitive arena in which manufacturers can push the envelope of hydrogen fuel cell-powered electric vehicle technology, enabling racing to take its rightful place again as the principal conduit for the transference of advanced technologies and innovations directly to our future production vehicles.

The Hydrogen Electric Racing Federation aims to help the world's leading automobile manufacturers (and their suppliers) promote hydrogen fuel cell- powered electric vehicle technology as not only The Future of Racing, but as a glittering showcase for the future of transportation.

SOURCE Hydrogen Electric Racing Federation

Ricky Bobby Lives in East Liberty, OH

2007-01-07T11:51:00.001-05:00

Buckeye Bullet driver Roger Schroer is our "Ricky Bobby", star of Talladega Nights. Real sponsor promotions fill the entire first 15 minutes of the movie. Logos and stickers are everywhere on Ricky's car, drivers suit and helmet, too. When Ricky sold his windshield to Fig Newtons, I was in sponsorship heaven. Talladega Nights is a fun movie for us racing fans!

Thanks for supporting the Ohio State Buckeye Bullet student land speed racing team!

Buckeye Bullet promo during National Champiionship Game

2007-01-05T11:40:00.001-05:00

CAR is in the news again...

Headline news from OSU TODAY

OSU PROMOTIONAL SPOT TO DEBUT DURING BCS TITLE GAME

Ohio State's latest TV Public Service Announcement depicting an array of excellence at Ohio State will debut nationally during the BCS national championship game Monday night. The 30-second PSA shows some of Ohio State's greatest at the top of their games - just like the Buckeyes themselves, and highlights groundbreaking research, award-winning performances, and national recognition for jobs well done. View a sneak preview of the promotional online.

Kudos to ALL!

Pat Hall
Assistant to the Director
Center for Automotive Research
The Ohio State University
930 Kinnear Road
Columbus, Ohio 43212

Happy Holidays!

2006-12-14T11:36:00.000-05:00

Click on card to view in full screen . . .

To all Buckeye Bullet Fans,

Happy Holidays! Thank you for your continued generous support of all student activities here at The Ohio State University.

See you all on The Salt in 2007!

Go Bucks! Go even faster!!

Speed TV Bonneville Documentary

2006-11-30T10:54:00.000-05:00

Ford Quality Checked Certified Pre-owned backed and seven-time AMA Ford Quality Checked Flat Track champion Chris Carr and his world land speed record run in the BUB Enterprises streamliner will be the subject of a two-part documentary on the 2006 Bonneville Salt Flats FIM/AMA Sports – International Motorcycle Speed Trials by BUB.

The first of the two installments will air this Sunday, Dec. 3, at 3 p.m. (EST) on SPEED Channel. The second will air the following Sunday (Dec. 10) at 3 p.m. on SPEED.

“This should be pretty cool for fans of motorsports in general,” said Carr. “It’s not too often you’re going to witness a motorcycle traveling in excess of 350 miles per hour. These two programs on SPEED should be pretty epic.”

Shot by longtime motorcycle television event producer Chet Burks (Chet Burks Productions) and narrated by the most recognizable voice in the motorcycle industry – Dave Despain from SPEED – this Sunday’s airing of the 2006 Bonneville Salt Flats FIM/AMA Sports – International Motorcycle Speed Trials by BUB will be one of the most comprehensive efforts of documenting the legendary race in television history.

“I love Bonneville because it’s the last bastion of unlimited racer innovation and ingenuity,” said Despain. “If you can imagine it and build it, then Bonneville is the place to see how fast it will go. The idea of doing 350 mph on two wheels is pretty outrageous on the face of it. And as far as I’m concerned this is an absolute ‘must see’ on SPEED.”

The current AMA/Ford Quality Checked Flat Track champion, winningest active racer in the sport with 75 wins and seven AMA Ford QC Flat Track championship titles, the Chris Carr legend continues. For more information on Chris Carr, visit his website at www.chriscarr.com.

High Profile Public Relations, LLC is a multi-faceted communications agency specializing in strategic media relations – both industry and mainstream – for the powersports and action sports communities. Dialed in with all forms of power and action sports, its participants, manufacturers and live event promoters, HPPR’s Pat Schutte can be reached at (734) 369-2170 and pat@highprofilepr.com. For more information, please visit www.highprofilepr.com.

Ohio State 42, Michigan 39! Go Bucks!!!

2006-11-17T17:16:00.000-05:00

Ohio State Fuel Cell Video

2006-11-16T17:34:00.000-05:00

To all Buckeye Bullet fans,

Go inside The Ohio State University automotive fuel-cell program with Giorgio & Yann through this new Ohio State Impact video.

http://www.osu.edu/features/2006/fuelcell/

Go Bucks! Go even cleaner!

Pete Miller

The Ohio State University

Buckeye Bullet Student Land Speed Racing Team

U.S. & International Records Holder

A Message from Ohio State Team Captains

2006-11-16T13:52:00.000-05:00

Buckeye fans,

WE'RE READY for the greatest rivalry in college football.

THE GAME is finally here; this is what we have all been waiting for. Not only is this a moment for us to shine, it's a moment for you, THE FANS, to shine.

Let's show the nation what the BUCKEYES are all about. On Saturday, be loud and proud, but at the same time respect our opponent and their fans. Act with class and dignity.

The nation is watching. Show everyone in college football you are the BEST FANS IN THE LAND.

Go Bucks!

Troy Smith
Doug Datish
Quinn Pitcock
David Patterson

Ohio State Team Captains

Ohio's now a leader in Fuel Cells

2006-11-12T17:14:00.000-05:00

As its old-line industries have failed, Ohio has tried to create a climate for high-tech manufacturing. Now, after plowing about $52 million into research and other subsidies, the state is emerging as a leader in the fuel cell industry.

Read the details: http://www.fuelcellsworks.com/Supppage6416.html

Bonneville comes to Columbus

2006-11-12T12:19:00.000-05:00

To all Buckeye Bullet fans,

Bonneville Nationals Land Speed Records Keeper and Webmaster, Ed Safarik, recently toured the Buckeye Bullet garage at the Center for Automotive Research on the campus of The Ohio State University. Ed posted his report and photos on the BNI/SCTA website for the whole world to see. http://www.scta-bni.org/news/OSU/osu.htm

Ed was accompanied by BNI and East Coast Timing Association (ECTALSR) member, Mike Meierle, a land speed record holder, himself.

Thanks Ed & Mike!

Go Bucks! Go even faster!!

Top U.S. Concours invites Buckeye Bullet Team

2006-10-30T15:56:00.000-05:00

The organizing committee of the HIlton Head Island Concours d'Elegance, one of this country's top classic car shows, has invited The Ohio State University's, U.S. & International record holding, Buckeye Bullet Student Land Speed Racing Team to appear at its 2007 event. The Buckeye Bullet team and its record-holding all-electric streamliner were guests at the 2005 HHI Concurs.

Dick Knowlton and the Hilton Head Island Symphony Orchestra will once again sponsor the Buckeye Bullet appearance next November.

Thank you to everyone at HHI!

New Ohio State Mechanical Engineering Home Dedicated

2006-10-21T08:10:00.000-04:00

Alumni, faculty and friends of the Ohio State Department of Mechanical Engineering celebrated the dedication and grand opening of the Peter L. and Clara M. Scott Laboratory, new home of Mechanical Engineering, on Friday, October 20, 2006.

Ohio State President Karen Holbrook, E. Garrison Walters, Ohio Board of Regents, and Dean of Engineering William A. “Bud” Baeslack, as well as Peter and Clara Scott and other major building donors, participated in the ceremony. The Scott’s donated $10 million towards the construction of the building.

The $71 million Scott Laboratory broke ground in October 2003. Designed to improve the efficacy of teaching and research, the new facility’s 128,000 assignable square feet of space provide a supportive, inviting, and comfortable environment for students, faculty and staff members.

Scott Laboratory features attractive student areas, including a large student lounge, adjoining rooms for student organizations and activities, and lockers where students can store their books and other belongings while they’re in class; instructional, research, and computer laboratories; state-of-the-art classrooms; a large auditorium; a multi-story atrium and elevated walkway; a distance learning center; faculty and administrative offices; and conference rooms.

The new complex features three buildings totaling 128,800 square feet of space. The Laboratory Building is 76,400 sf; the Office and Classroom Building is 33,200 sf; and the Student Services and Administration Building is 19,200 sf.

Contact: Gina Langen, Engineering Communications, 614-688-442

British Steam LSR Car - Speeed Week '07

2006-10-21T07:10:00.000-04:00

Speed Week 2007 is "heating" up with the Ohio State University's Buckeye Bullet 2, the world's first hydrogen fuel cell streamliner, and the British steamliner heading for Bonneville.

Motorsports: Full steam ahead for land speed record bid

20 Oct 06 16:24


British Steam Car Challenge

A team aiming to hit 200mph to take the British and world land speed records for steam-powered cars has now achieved the 300bhp it believes should see it on its way to success.

After workshop trials led to a successful turbine redesign, the British Steam Car Challenge is now building the boilers that will produce four megawatts of energy. The crucial trials were made possible by new backer Slough Heat and Power, one of nearly 50 companies supporting the team.

The team will make its first record attempt in a streamlined car, called Inspiration, at Verneuk Pan in South Africa next June 2007, before heading to the Bonneville Salt Flats in the USA in August.

The British Steam Car Challenge team was assembled by Charles Burnett III after his uncle, Lord Montagu of Beaulieu, was impressed by a project undertaken by students at Southampton University. The car was designed by Dr Glynne Bowsher, who was mechanical director on the British Thrust SSC project - the current holder of the outright land speed record. Consulting engineer Frank Swanston is now heading the project. The world record for a steam-powered car was set at 127.659mph by Fred Marriot in 1906. In 1985, Bob Barber reached 145.607mph in a steam car but only made one run, not the two required for a world record.

Swanston said: 'There is no official British record, so whatever speed we achieve during tests at Bruntingthorpe airfield in Leicestershire early next year will stand. Next, we want to set a world land speed record of 200mph in South Africa, then follow that in August by breaking Barber's American national record during Bonneville Speed Week, at 150mph.'

There will be two drivers. One is Charles Burnett III, who has raced dragsters and powerboats. The other is Annette Getty, general manager of high-tech engineering company PDS, which manufactured Inspiration's tubular steel chassis. She has been preparing for the record attempts by driving a rally car.

Pete

BB driver knocked out of SCCA championship race

2006-10-14T20:06:00.000-04:00

To all Buckeye Bullet fans,

Buckeye Bullet driver, Roger Schroer, worked his way up to 2nd place in the SCCA SSC national chamionship race Friday and was challenging the pole sitter and eventual winner, Pete Taylor driving a Cooper Mini S, before being hit from behind and knocked off course, finishing 21st.

The race will be broadcast next month on Speed TV.

Buckeye Bullet driver qualed 10th for national championship race

2006-10-13T06:24:00.000-04:00

Buckeye Bullet driver & Bonneville 300 MPH Club member, Roger Schroer, is in 10th place going into today's SCCA SSC national championship race. His final qualifying time yesterday was 2 seconds behind that of Pete Taylor and his Cooper Mini S. The SSC race is scheduled for about 11:30 am in Topeka. It is being taped by Speed TV for a Nov national TV broadcast.

Go Roger! Go Bucks!! Go even faster!

Pete

Pete Miller
The Ohio State University Buckeye Bullet 2
The World's First Hydrogen Fuel-Cell Land Speed Racing Streamliner

The Ohio State University Buckeye Bullet
The World's Fastest Wheel Driven Electric Vehicle - 321MPH at Bonneville
US & International Land Speed Recorded Holder
www.RoadToBonneville.com

Buckeye Bullet Driver in SCCA National Championships

2006-10-10T07:25:00.000-04:00

To all Buckeye Bullet Fans,

Buckeye Bullet driver, and Bonneville 300-MPH Club member, Roger Schroer is competing in the Showroom Stock C (SSC) class of the 2007 Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) National Championships this week in Topeka, Kansas .

Qualifying is underway. Roger's SSC race is scheduled for Friday, October 13th, at 11:20 AM. Speed TV is taping the race for a national broadcast next month (Nov 7 or Nov 14).

SCCA SSC website: http://www.scca.com/Event/Event.asp?Ref=2006-runoffs-SSC

2007 SCCA National Championships news story: http://www.motorsport.com/news/article.asp?ID=235514&FS=

Go Roger! Go Bucks! Go even faster!

Pete Miller
The Ohio State University Buckeye Bullet 2
The World's First Hydrogen Fuel-Cell Land Speed Racing Team

The Ohio State University Buckeye Bullet
The World's Fastest Wheel Driven Electric Vehicle - 321MPH at Bonneville
US & International Land Speed Recorded Holder
www.RoadToBonneville.com

Ohio State NYC Alumni roll out scarlet & grey carpet for Buckeye Bullet Team

2006-10-05T14:29:00.000-04:00

Buckeye Bullet Team Reception: (Front Row From left) Kevin Ma, Kim Stevens (Aerodynamic Design Leader), Tahira Rehmatullah, Donna Miller (Fundraising, Marketing & PR), Jeremy Swillinger. (Back Row From left) David Cooke (Finance, Business, Shows, Mechanical Design), Ben Sinsheimer (Electrical Team Leader), Pete Miller (Fundraising, Marketing & PR) and John Neal (ChallengeX Team, Buckeye Bullet transportation). Mercury Bar West. September 29, 2006.

The Ohio State Alumni Club of Greater New York hosted the world record holding Buckeye Bullet Student Landspeed Racing Team during Wired NextFest.

Thanks to every Buckeye in the Big Apple for a great time and a great show!

Fro more information on the Ohio State Alumni Club of greater New York go to http://www.osunyc-alumni.org/

Go Bucks! Go even faster!

Pete Miller & The Buckeye Bullet Team

NextFest (Day 3): Thousands more see Buckeye Bullet

2006-10-01T10:51:00.000-04:00

Wired NextFest
New York City October 1, 2006

To all Buckeye Bullet fans & sponsors:

Thousands of New York City area business men and women and their families visitedthe NextFest Buckeye Bullet booth on Saturday. Parents proudly showed the world'sfastest electric car to their young children. The "wow factor" was veryhigh.

Lunches were missed and voices grew horse as Buckeye Bullet team members extolledthe virtues of being Ohio State engineering students over and over again to groupsof people as many as ten deep at times.

Buckeye Bullet visitor-awareness was pleasantly high, indicating that the team'sPR & media campaigns are beginning to reach the national public audience.

Day 3 Highlights:

1. Lehman Brothers investment banker (and Ohio State Fisher College of Business alum), Ann Yihua Yang, voluntarily took on the task of bringing FCOB students tothe Buckeye Bullet Team. Ann is a member of the FCOB Alumni Advisory Council andsuggested that many FCOB business students would see the Bullet as an ideal quarterproject. Ann will also talk the Bullet Program up with the FCOB Alumni AdvisoryCouncil.

2. The Buckeye Bullet will be featured in the Columbia University Campus News.

3. GreenCar.com will have a web article about the Bullet.

4. Elifelist.com will have an on-line video interview with Bullet team members.

5. Countless number of TV cameramen were in the Bullet booth taping short scenesof Ohio State team members and the Bullet.

6. Estimated Saturday show (and Buckeye Bullet booth) attendance: 20,000

7. NextFest-hosted a dinner for all exhibitors after the show at a NYC restaurant

NYC travel tip: New York is "the city that never sleeps" . . . neitherdo we, it seems

One more day to go . . .

Pete/Donna Miller & The Buckeye Bullet Team
http://www.roadtobonneville.com/

Buckeye Bullet/Branson Spaceship launch NextFest 2007

2006-09-29T08:59:00.000-04:00

From Wired NextFest 2007
New York City
September 28, 2006

To all Buckeye Bullet fans & sponsors,

Wired Magazine chose the Buckeye Bullet as one of three exemplary exhibits and positioned it in Booth 001 at the entrance to the entire show.

Richard Branson is displaying a full size interior and exterior mockup of "Space Ship Two" designed to carry passengers into suborbital space travel.

Buckeye Bullet/NextFest TV schedule:

Friday, September 29th at 9PM (ET) on Science Channel
Sunday, October 1st at 9PM (ET) on Science Channel
Sunday, October 1st at 11AM (ET) on Discovery Channel

Buckeye Bullet highlights (Day 1):

1. Fifthteen-thousand potentially future Buckeyes visited the booth.
2. French TV (F2) interviewed the team and expressed strong interest in visiting CAR.
3. Discovery Channel taped an interview for immediate broadcast (schedule above).
4. MHP Productions (Discovery Channel) expressed interest in new TV show featuring the Buckeye Bullet.
5. Spike TV taped interviews for a webcast.
6. Forbes interviewed the team for a Forbes.com story.
7. Electronic Design & Plenty (green) Magazines plan feature stories.
8. Autobac Corp initiated discussions to supply BB2 with a custom driver's seat.

The Ohio State NYC Alumni Club hosted a reception for the team. Wall Street consultants, racing media writers, web advertising experts and other Ohio State alum promised to visit our booth in the next few days. Thanks!!

NYC travel tip: Walk - Parking is $50/day!

Pete Miller & The Buckeye Bullet Team
The Ohio State University
Buckeye Bullet 2

Day Job

2006-09-24T07:56:00.000-04:00

Columbus, OH
September 24, 2006

Bonneville 300 MPH Club Member (and Buckeye Bullet Driver) Roger Schroer drove a Ferrari F430 during a recent SAE All-Wheel Drive Symposium at TRC, Inc.

Roger reports "Very nice ride, 490 HP, 340 Ft. Lbs. of torque, lovely steering and brakes, progressive oversteer if so inclined."

The car was provided by our friends at Magna International who designed and manufacturers the F430's electronic differential.

Will we see Roger at Bonneville in the F430? "No, I am getting ready to drive the hydrogen fuel-cell powered Buckeye Bullet 2 down the long course next year", says the shy record holder. "But, my day job at TRC, Inc. (training automotive engineers to drive "on-the-edge" to give them hands-on experience with the vehicles they design) is great fun, too."

I guess someone has to do it . . .

Pete Miller
Buckeye Bullet 2