This is the final year of the five-year-long FutureTruck competition organized and operated by Argonne and sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy. The University of Wisconsin-Madison took first place in the 2004 FutureTruck event with this modified Ford Explorer, dubbed "Moolander."

'FutureTrucks' blaze trail for cleaner vehicles

By Evelyn Brown

Although torrential rains in the Midwest made the off-road competition a muddy mess, the weather did not dampen the spirits of university teams competing in the final FutureTruck event June 9-17 at Ford's Michigan Proving Ground.

This is the final year of the five-year-long competition organized and operated by Argonne and sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy and major automotive manufacturers and suppliers. Ford sponsored the 2002 through 2004 events; General Motors sponsored the 2000 and 2001 competitions.

Of the 15 teams in the competition, University of Wisconsin-Madison took first place by achieving a 33 percent increase in on-road fuel economy and a 50 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions over the stock 2002 Ford Explorer donated to all 15 of the FutureTruck teams from the United States and Canada.

The challenge was to re-engineer a 2002 Ford Explorer for the highest fuel economy and lowest emissions -- the goal was 25 percent improvement in both categories -- while maintaining the performance, utility and safety consumers want.

To meet this challenge, teams designed and installed hybrid-electric systems -- an internal combustion engine combined with one or more electric motors and a battery. Competing vehicles relied on innovative technologies including advanced engines, lightweight materials and alternative fuels, such as E-85 ethanol and biodiesel. Two teams adapted their trucks' internal combustion engines to run on hydrogen.

The winning vehicle, a parallel hybrid from UW-Madison, used an advanced 1.8-liter diesel engine with a sophisticated catalyst system that achieved ultra-low emission vehicle (ULEV) level emissions -- a first in collegiate vehicle competitions. The UW-Madison Explorer delivered more than 30 mpg on biodiesel in mixed city and highway on-road vehicle testing and came within 0.1 seconds of the stock Explorer's acceleration performance over a quarter mile from a standing start.

The Wisconsin team built an aluminum frame to reduce their vehicle's weight by 200 pounds compared to the stock Explorer, despite adding a nickel-metal hydride battery pack and electric motor.

Penn State won second place with its innovative diesel-emission-reduction system in a parallel hybrid configuration using a 2.5-liter diesel engine with an AC-induction electric motor.

Third place Georgia Tech employed a powerful parallel hybrid-electric powertrain that would be easy to install as a factory option. Their design used a large AC induction electric motor to drive the front wheels and a three-liter, six-cylinder gasoline engine using a five-speed automatic transmission to drive the rear wheels.

The competition focused on Sport Utility Vehicles (SUVs) because more than half of the vehicles sold today are SUVs and light-duty trucks. SUVs are heavier than most vehicle types, and compared to cars, are less energy efficient and emit more greenhouse gases.

"FutureTruck has set the standard for energy-efficient, full-function SUVs," said Bob Larsen, director of Argonne's Center for Transportation Research, which manages FutureTruck. "Besides the technology development and demonstration aspect of FutureTruck, team members learn real-world skills in creatively re-engineering their vehicles."

Rigorous testing

Teams were judged in more than a dozen events including off-road performance, oral and written presentations, consumer acceptability and vehicle design.

The off-road driving events proved more difficult this year due to heavy rains. The SUVs occasionally got stuck in the mud in the three-foot-deep pits lined with logs and rocks on the track.

The trailer-towing event challenged the Explorers to pull a 2,000-pound trailer within a specified time period over a 15-mile-long hill route.

The Regulated Tailpipe Emissions event called for the students' innovative technologies to work together as planned. The difference of a few parts-per-million of one of several pollutants determined winning or losing.

"Argonne," Larsen said, "has been instrumental in recruiting the sponsors, establishing the technical requirements, developing the testing methodologies and instrumentation used in evaluating the vehicles, and operating this complex nine-day competition."

Even though 2004 is the last year of FutureTruck, it is not the end of Argonne and DOE university competitions. In August, Challenge X: Crossover to Sustainable Mobility begins with re-engineering compact Chevrolet SUVs.

The laboratory has managed more than 45 advanced-vehicle-technology competitions for DOE since 1987, providing significant technical, educational and promotional benefits to DOE and the nation. More than 15,000 students from 60 institutions in the United States, Canada and Mexico have participated.

More information about FutureTruck and Challenge X is online.

Argonne-East picnic promises fun for entire family

By Dinesh Ramde

The days are getting longer, the air is becoming more humid, and Cubs and White Sox fans are feuding. That can only mean one thing: summer's here, and with it comes the long-awaited Argonne-East employee picnic.

The theme of this year's picnic, to be held Saturday, July 10, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Argonne Park, is "Don't Bug Me." It will feature insect-themed carnival attractions such as the Water Bugs dunk tank and the Horsefly Shoes horseshoe contest.

More than 2,000 people attended last year, and Eric Lindert (PHY), vice-president of the Argonne Club, expects similar attendance this year.

"We cordially invite all Argonne and DOE employees and their families to join us at the picnic," Lindert said. "There's free parking and admission, and we'll have rides and activities for all ages." Hot dog and hamburger meals from Bubba's Doghouse will be available for purchase.

Attractions for children include a petting zoo and free cotton candy and snow-cones, while adults can enjoy activities such as hayrides and bingo. There will be a rock-climbing wall and a "sticky" Velcro wall where patrons can put on Velcro-covered clothing and adhere to the wall.

One attraction that consistently ranks among the most popular is the reptile zoo. "There will be live reptiles and amphibians from all over the world, from turtles and alligators to large constrictors and Gila monsters," Lindert said.

Lindert said the Argonne Club is always looking for volunteers to assist with carnival games. For information on volunteering, visit the Argonne Club Web site. Volunteers receive a free T-shirt.

Argonne-West will hold its picnic Saturday, July 31, at the Heise Hot Springs. More information will be forthcoming.

Lindert smiled when asked why employees should attend the picnic. "Because it's their civic duty," he said, tongue-in-cheek. "If you don't attend, it will go on your permanent record, and you'll be contacted by the appropriate authorities."

Eastgate to close for renovation

Argonne-East's southernmost Cass Avenue entrance, Eastgate, will undergo major renovation starting Tuesday, July 6. It will reopen for normal traffic Monday, Aug. 9, at 6:30 a.m. During the renovation, employees may use either Northgate or Westgate to enter and exit the laboratory.

Nuclear energy advisory board
to provide lab focus, direction

A new Argonne/University of Chicago Utility Advisory Board, comprising senior executives from eight nuclear generating companies, will provide advice to the laboratory on the direction and focus of the laboratory's priorities in three key areas related to nuclear energy.

Key areas include:

* Continued operation of the nation's 104 existing nuclear power plants.

* Implementation of the joint industry-government Nuclear Power 2010 program, aimed at building new nuclear plants in the U.S.

* Demonstration of Generation IV technologies in Idaho.

"Nuclear generation is critical to long-term energy supply and U.S. energy independence," said Argonne Director Hermann Grunder. "This utility-laboratory advisory board will help us focus our core competencies in nuclear energy on both the near-term and long-term needs of the nation."

Michael Sellman, president and chief executive officer of Nuclear Management Company, was elected to head the board.

Initial efforts of the board will address the role of the laboratory in supporting safety, fuels testing, materials science and reliability of the nation's existing nuclear power plants. A working group was also established as an industry-laboratory partnership to conduct detailed analyses of the business case for installing additional nuclear capacity in the United States. With its world-renowned School of Business, the university is uniquely qualified to contribute to these analyses.

Nuclear generating companies currently represented on the utility advisory board include American Electric Power, Constellation Energy, Dominion Energy, Entergy, Exelon, Nuclear Management Corporation, Omaha Public Power District and Southern California Edison. Together, these utilities own and operate 41 nuclear units in the United States.

The board's membership also includes a former president and chief nuclear officer of Public Service Enterprise Group.

The board will meet semiannually. The next meeting is scheduled for this fall in Idaho Falls.

Ask the Directorate

Q. At the recent University of Chicago Awards presentation, University President Don Randel said he was hiding his badge because it was not supposed to be in photos. This seems in conflict with the posting at the Argonne gates (and other printed information) that badges/passes are to be displayed at all times while on site. What's the real policy?

A. DOE requires that badges or site-access credentials (passes) be worn on the upper part of the body in plain view at all times when the person holding the badge is on site. However, there are exceptions when their display could compromise security. Photos are one such time. Given modern computer technology, a badge in a photo could enable forgeries. Photo badges identify an individual as an Argonne or government employee. Those with a "Q" or "L" clearance provide even more information, which could be exploited and identify the employee as a target. For these reasons, badges should not be worn visibly off site, used for personal business or be left anywhere, for example in a car, where they might be readily stolen.

Q. I'm wondering if the lab would appropriate a permanent room or other location for employees to hold exercise classes and store exercise equipment. There are many people interested in the popular lunchtime aerobics and yoga classes, but these groups have a hard time finding the space to hold them. Exercise can play such an important role in the health, well-being and productivity of employees. Isn't there any place in this whole lab that these classes can be held without risk of being booted yet again?

A. Regretfully, at this time we are unable to identify a permanent home for these activities. However, a member of the facilities planning and program management staff reviews space issues on site regularly. We are aware of your needs, and we will give them full consideration as space needs change on site.

"Ask the Directorate" gives employees an opportunity to ask senior Argonne management direct questions about the laboratory's operations, policy, strategy, mission, budget and goals. Job- or workplace-specific questions should be referred to immediate supervisors.

Employees may submit questions to askthedirectorate@anl.gov or fax them to ext. 2-5274. Only questions that include the name of the questioner and contact information, such as e-mail address, office extension or fax number, will be answered.

Details are online at www.anl.gov/news.html.

July 4 holiday will change deadlines,
Guest House, Grill hours

Due to the July 4 holiday, the deadline for all news, seminar listings and classified ads for the Monday, July 12, issue of Argonne News will be noon Friday, July 2.

The Guest House Restaurant and the 401 Grill will have shorter hours during the July 4 weekend. The Guest House Restaurant will only be open for lunch and dinner on Saturday, July 3, and Sunday, July 4. The restaurant will be closed on Monday, July 5.

The 401 Grill will be open on Saturday, July 3, from 11:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. It will be open Sunday, July 4, and Monday, July 5, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Retirement vendors offer
one-on-one meetings

The laboratory's retirement vendors will meet with employees and answer questions at Argonne-East during July. To schedule an appointment, call the number listed.

Fidelity -- Tuesday, July 6, and Tuesday, July 13. Call (800) 642-7131.

TIAA-CREF -- Tuesday, July 13, and Wednesday, July 14. Call (800) 842-2005 or visit www.tiaa-cref/moc.

Prudential -- Wednesday July 7, and Wednesday July 21, until noon. Call (847) 619-3519.

Yoga classes offered
at Argonne-East

The Argonne Wellness program will offer weekly yoga sessions on Tuesdays from July 6 to Aug. 24. Each 8-week session will be held in Building 212, Room A157, and the cost is $48.

Choose from three sessions: from 11:30 a.m. to 12:20 p.m.; from 12:30 p.m. to 1:20 p.m.; or from 5:15 p.m. to 6:05 p.m. Dress comfortably and bring a mat or towel.

The deadline to sign up is Wednesday, June 30. Call ext. 2-2803 for more information.

Survey will help improve vending service

The Business Enterprise Program for the Blind (BEPB), which has provided vending machine service at Argonne-East since December 2003, is conducting a survey of laboratory employees through July 2.

Survey forms can be found in vending locations of each building. After completing a questionnaire, fold it and place it in the intra-laboratory mail. Questionnaires are pre-addressed.

Responses will provide valuable information to improve service.