UWAFT – SAE 2005

Every year a group of over 35,000 professionals from the automotive industry gather at the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) World Congress. For five days participants can attend onsite seminars and presentations about cutting edge automotive technology. The SAE explores the future of automotive engineering as well as bringing together the industry's top executives. It is a playground that connects those who influence the industry and its products.

This year the event took place on April 11-14 in Detroit, Michigan. It celebrated the SAE's 100th anniversary. The University of Waterloo Alternative Fuels Team (UWAFT) was proud to be a part of the celebration along with an emphasis on the new GM competition, Challenge X in which the UWAFT is a strong competitor.

Challenge X is an energy-driven competition hosted by General Motors and the US Department of Energy. It is a challenge that is open to all American and Canadian schools. The ultimate goal is for a team to convert the 2005 Equinox SUV power train from a traditional combustion engine into an alternate and sustainable technology. The only Canadian university to participate is the University of Waterloo, the team members of which have opted to integrate hydrogen fuel cell technology to power the car.

At the World Congress the members of UWAFT were given an excellent opportunity to forge contact relations with alumni, other university collaborations, interested sponsorship and possible Waterloo engineering hopefuls. UWAFT's participation in the SAE World Congress of 2005 was definitely a resounding success as UWAFT hopes that the new relationships made will be long lasting and beneficial for everybody.

If you have any questions or are interested in joining the team, please visit the website at www.uwaft.uwaterloo.ca. For information on the competition visit www.challengex.org. Or you can contact the team by email at uwaft@engmail.uwaterloo.ca.