More Than 100 Vehicles, 15 Manufacturers, Head to Sonoma for 2003 Challenge Bibendum
Largest Environmental Vehicle Event on the Planet Set to Begin Sept. 23
GREENVILLE, S.C., Sept. 15 -- One week from tomorrow, more than 100 of the cleanest running advanced technology vehicles on the planet will roll into Sonoma, Calif., to kick off Michelin's fifth annual environmental vehicle competition, Challenge Bibendum(TM). The event, centered at Sonoma's Infineon Raceway, will run Sept. 23-25, and will feature environmentally positive vehicles from the world's major automakers. This is only the second time that Challenge Bibendum has visited North America.
The 2003 Challenge Bibendum is the largest ever. Participating automakers include: Audi, BMW, DaimlerChrysler, Freightliner, General Motors, Ford, Honda, Hyundai, Isuzu Truck, Nissan, Peugeot, Toyota, Volkswagen, Volvo, and Volvo Truck. Some of the most advanced vehicles in the world will be joined by more than 35 Learning Center technology displays, top industry speakers from Europe, China and the United States, as well as more than 1,000 attendees from 30 countries.
Participants include: 11 fuel cell vehicles, 18 hydrogen powered vehicles and an even split between prototypes and production models.
"The 2003 Challenge Bibendum will be incredible," said Ron Musgnug, Michelin's North American project leader for the 2003 event. "The participation from the manufacturers, policymakers and leading technology developers from around the world has been phenomenal. Attendees to this year's event are sure to get a complete picture of the current situation and future promise for sustainable mobility worldwide as well as drive for themselves some of the most advanced vehicles in existence."
The official kickoff for Challenge Bibendum will be on Sonoma Square, Sept. 23. Testing, press conferences, presentations, information booths and ride 'n' drives take place at the track on Sept. 24. The event culminates on Sept. 25 with a 100-mile road rally through the Sonoma Valley and across the Golden Gate Bridge into San Francisco.
2003 Challenge Bibendum Registered Participants:
AC Propulsion 2003 AC Propulsion tzero Electric
Volkswagen Jetta Hybrid
American Biofuels Chevrolet Geo Metro Bio-diesel
Chevrolet Geo Metro Bio-diesel
American Honda 2003 ACURA MDX Touring ICE /
Gasoline
2003 HONDA ACCORD EX ICE /
Gasoline
2003 HONDA CIVIC GX ICE
CNG
2003 HONDA CIVIC HYBRID CVT Hybrid
Gasoline
Electric
2003 HONDA ELEMENT 2 WD EX ICE /
Gasoline
2003 HONDA FCX Fuel Cell Gaseous
Hydrogen
2003 HONDA Insight Hybrid
Gasoline
Electric
Anuvu Suzuki Esteem Hybrid Gaseous
Hydrogen
Audi 2003 Audi A8 4.0 TDI quattro ICE /
Diesel
DaimlerChrysler 2004 Chrysler PT Cruiser Bio-diesel
2004 Chrysler PT Cruiser Bio-diesel
2004 Chrysler Voyager Bio-diesel
2004 Chrysler Voyager Bio-diesel
2004 Dodge Ram 2500 Bio-diesel
2004 Dodge Ram 2500 Bio-diesel
2002 Mercedes-Benz F-Cell A-Class Fuel
Cell /
Gaseous
Hydrogen
Mercedes-Benz Citaro Fuel
Cell /
Gaseous
Hydrogen
Coqueline Courreges 2002 Courreges La Bulle r Electric
Ebus Inc. 2003 Ebus Vintage Trolley Electric
Motor
ECD Ovonics 2003 Toyota Prius ICE /
Gaseous
Hydrogen
Fairfield-Suisun United School District
2002 International School Bus ICE /
Diesel
Ford Motor Company 2003 Ford Focus FCV Fuel
Cell /
Gaseous
Hydrogen
2003 Ford Focus FCV Fuel
Cell /
Gaseous
Hydrogen
2003 Ford Focus H2ICE ICE Gaseous
Hydrogen
2003 Ford Focus H2RV Hybrid /
Gaseous
Hydrogen
2003 Ford MY E-350 Wagon CNG
Freightliner LLC 2000 Century Class Day Cab Diesel
Freightliner LLC Century S/T Diesel
General Motors 2000 Chevrolet Malibu ICE /
Gasoline
Chevrolet S10-Pick-up Truck Electric
2002 FIAT STILO ICE /
Diesel
2002 GM Hy-Wire Fuel
Cell /
Gaseous
Hydrogen
2003 GMC SIERRA Hybrid
Electric
2001 GMC Sierra ICE /
Gasoline
2002 GMC Yukon ICE /
Ethanol
(E85)
2002 Opel Zafira Fuel
Cell
Liquid
Hydrogen
2003 Saturn VUE ICE /
Gasoline
2003 Saturn VUE ICE /
Gasoline
2001 Gillig Standard Floor 40' Hybrid
Electric
Harris Ranch Feeding Company
2000 Freightliner 3-Axle Tractor/Trailer Liquid
Natural
Gas
Hyundai 2001 Santa Fe FCEV Fuel Cell
/ Gaseous
Hydrogen
2002 Santa Fe FCHEV Fuel Cell Gaseous
Hydrogen
Intergalactic Hydrogen/Institute of Ecolonomics
Toyota Tacoma ICE /
Gaseous
Hydrogen
Isuzu Motors Inc. and Westport Innovations Inc.
2003 Isuzu Motors Ltd. Elf CNG-DI Compressed
Natural
Gas
Michigan Tech Future Truck
2002 Ford Hybrid Explorer Hybrid
Electric
Napa Valley School District
Blue Bird Electric Transit School Bus Electric
Motor
Nissan North America 2004 Nissan Altima Gasoline
2002 Nissan Hypermini Electric
Motor
(6 cars)
2004 Nissan Murano Gasoline
2004 Nissan Murano Gasoline
2004 Nissan Sentra Gasoline
2004 Nissan Sentra Gasoline
Nissan Xterra FCV Hybrid /
Gaseous
Hydrogen
Norcal Sanitary Fill/Cummins Westport Inc.
2001 Peterbilt 378 Daycab Liquid
Natural
Gas
(LNG)
Pacific Gas & Electric 2001 Freightliner Fl 70
Compressed
Natural
Gas
PETER SARGEANT NG TF LPG/
Propane
Robert Bosch Corp. 2004 Audi A8 TDI quattro ICE /
Diesel
2003 BMW 330d ICE /
Diesel
2004 BMW 530d ICE /
Diesel
2003 BMW 740d ICE /
Diesel
2003 BMW X5 3.0d ICE /
Diesel
2003 Mercedes E 320d ICE /
Diesel
2003 Mini ONE D ICE /
Diesel
2001 Peugeot 607 Hdi ICE /
Diesel
2003 Volkswagen Passat TDI 4motion ICE /
Diesel
2003 Volkswagen Touareg V10 TDI ICE /
Diesel
2002 Volvo S80 D5 ICE /
Diesel
2003 Volvo XC90 D5 ICE /
Diesel
SAM 2001 Ford Crown Victoria LPG/
Propane
SoMo Solar Motions SoMo Electric
The Ecological Engine Company
2000 Westfield Seight LPG/
Propane
LTI Fairway Driver LPG/
Propane
Thor/ISE Fuel Cell Bus 2001 ElDorado EZ Rider Low Floor Hybrid/
Gaseous
Hydrogen
Toyota 2004 Lexus RX 330 ICE /
Gasoline
2004 Toyota Camry PZEV ICE /
Gasoline
2003 Toyota FCHV Fuel
Cell/
Gaseous
Hydrogen
2003 Toyota FCHV Fuel
Cell/
Gaseous
Hydrogen
2004 Toyota Prius Hybrid
2003 Toyota Prius Hybrid
2004 Toyota Sienna ICE /
Gasoline
U.S. EPA 2003 Ford F550 Hybrid /
Diesel
UC Davis HEV Center 2000 Chevrolet Suburban Hybrid /
Gasoline
2002 Ford Explorer Hybrid /
Ethanol
(E85)
Ford Taurus Hybrid /
Electricity
Mercury Sable Hybrid /
Electricity
University of Wisconsin
2002 Ford Explorer Hybrid /
Bio-diesel
Mercury Sable Hybrid /
Bio-diesel
Volvo Cars 2003 Volvo S60 PZEV ICE /
Gasoline
2002 Volvo S80 CNG Bifuel Compressed
Natural
Gas
2002 Volvo V70 CNG Bi-Fuel Compressed
Natural
Gas
2004 Volvo V70 PZEV ICE /
Gasoline
2003 Volvo V70 PZEV Wagon ICE /
Gasoline
2004 Volvo S60 PZEV ICE /
Gasoline
Volvo Trucks North America
2002 Volvo VNM ICE /
Diesel
2003 Volvo VN780 Tech Truck ICE /
Diesel
ZAP 2004 Zap Heibao HV Electric
Motor
2003 Zap LUV Electric
Motor
For more information visit the Challenge Bibendum website at www.challengebibendum.com.