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University of Maine chemical engineering students recently won a competition with a hydrogen-powered car they designed.
This is the latest event in which UMaine students are leading the way in developing new technologies to utilize alternative fuels. The team won the Northeastern Chem-E-Car regional competition for the second time in three years and is now eligible to compete in the national championships.
Last year, the work of the UMaine Solar Vehicle Team floundered. After having amassed many awards over the course of six years – oftentimes competing against teams sponsored by large corporations – the team lost its space in Perkins Hall to work on their vehicle, the Phantom Sol. This was the result of a lack of funding and several minor safety violations.
While the experiences of the Solar Car Team were disheartening, this latest development shows progress in UMaine’s leadership on alternative fuels. At a time when fuel prices are regularly reaching all-time highs and American interests are closely tied to the nation’s interests in fuel abroad, this sort of innovation right in our backyard should be a first priority.
In addition to the university not providing the necessary space for work, the Solar Car Team was funded heavily by private donations. We encourage the university to put forth its best effort in making efficient use of the surplus of human resources available on our campus, with the benefits of increased grants, national attention and, of course, the improvement of our environment
Bangor Daily News