**Solar Cars Hit the Road to Test Route 66 Course**

In preparation for next year\'s American Solar Challenge (ASC), three
solar car teams will test the planned course along historic Route 66
July 15-26. At 2,300 miles, the 2001 ASC is the world\'s longest solar
car race. It will feature as many as 60 solar-powered cars built by
university teams, companies, clubs and

individuals.

WHO\'S DRIVING: Teams making the drive are: Lincoln Land Community
College Springfield, Ill.), Rose-Hulman Institute (Terre Haute, Ind.)
and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (Cambridge, Mass.) LLCC
will test only the first leg, traveling from Chicago to Springfield.

WHERE ARE THE STOPS ALONG THE WAY: The media stops/checkpoints are
planned for Chicago, Ill.; Springfield, Ill.; Rolla, Mo.; Neosho, Mo.;
Claremore, Okla.; Edmond, Okla.; Sayre, Okla.; Amarillo, Texas;
Tucumcari, N.M.; Gallup, N.M.; Albuquerque, N.M.; Flagstaff, Ariz.;
Kingman, Ariz.; Barstow, Calif.; and Palm Springs, Calif. (Locations at
each stop are below)

Checkpoints are every 150-200 miles. Teams will likely spend
approximately 30 minutes at each stop, providing time for interviews and
photographs.

WHY: ASC encourages innovation and interest in science and engineering,
creates enthusiasm for educational excellence and the technologies that
emerge from that excellence, and demonstrates the power of solar energy
and energy efficiency.

CALL US ON THE ROAD: Where we\'ll be each day during the test run
depends on the weather and other factors influencing how far the solar
cars travel in a day. ASC public relations staff John Horst, George
Douglas and Chris Powers will be in constant contact with the cars. All
can be reached by cell phone: Horst, 303-882-0776; Douglas, (before July
20) 720-353-7540; Powers (after July 20) 882-0775.

**ABOUT THE TEAMS:**

[Rose-Hulman Institute]{.underline}

Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology\'s Solar Phantom team has competed
in eight national races during the past 10 years, including all five
Sunrayces. This year marks the 10-year anniversary of its first solar
race, GM Sunrayce USA, from Orlando to Warren, Mich.

During the 90\'s, Rose-Hulman students constructed four different cars
for these competitions \-- and construction is currently underway on the
Solar Phantom VI for the ASC in 2001. In May 2000, the Solar Phantom V
(the car making the test run) won the Formula Sun Grand Prix in Topeka,
Kan. It placed third in Sunrayce 99.

[MIT Solar Electric Vehicle Team]{.underline}

The Massachusetts Institute of Technology team is a student-run
organization that has competed in nearly 20 solar car races. In 1999,
MIT ventured to Australia to compete in the World Solar Challenge. It
earned first place in the lead acid (cut-out) class, eighth overall. MIT
has also found success in Sunrayce events. The school took first in
Sunrayce 95 and second in \'97.

Founded in 1985, MIT became the nation\'s first university to enter the
Swiss Tour de Sol in 1986. The team has also set a record with its
Solectria 5 \-- traveling across the U.S.

[Lincoln Land Community College]{.underline}

The team from Springfield, Ill., has been racing solar cars for almost
five years now. In May, LLCC took fifth in the stock car class during
the Formula Sun Grand Prix in Topeka, Kan.

The team\'s car \-- Prominence II \-- uses a hydrogen-powered fuel cell
to run its electric motor. The car\'s combination of solar cells and
hydrogen power is unique, team members say.

MEDIA STOPS/CHECKPOINTS FOR TEST RUN

Start: Chicago \-- Museum of Science and Industry

Checkpoint: Springfield, Ill. \-- Lincoln Land Community College

Checkpoint: Rolla, Mo. \-- University of Missouri Rolla

Checkpoint: Neosho, Mo. \-- Near Walmart Shopping Center

Checkpoint: Claremore, Okla. \-- Walmart lot

Checkpoint: Edmond, Okla. \-- University of Central Oklahoma

Checkpoint: Sayre, Okla. \-- Sayer Campus

Checkpoint: Amarillo, Texas \-- Big-K lot

Checkpoint: Tucumcari, N.M. \-- TBD

Checkpoint: Albuquerque, N.M. \-- Walmart lot

Checkpoint: Gallup Cultural Center

Checkpoint: Flagstaff, Ariz. \-- TBD

Checkpoint: Kingman, Ariz. \-- Junior/Senior High School

Checkpoint: Barstow, Calif. \-- Barstow College

Finish: Palm Springs, Calif. \-- Palm Springs High School

Support for the ASC is provided by the Department of Energy and its
National Renewable Energy Laboratory, 1600 Cole Boulevard, Golden, Colo.
80401 Fax: 303-275-4788

ASC is one of the Formula Sun Group of Events

PO Box 30

Freeman, MO 64763

Phone 800-606-8881

Fax 816-250-2558

Email: hq@formulasun.org

Web: www.formulasun.org

For more information contact:

John Horst, 303-882-0776, john_horst@nrel.gov

George Douglas (before July 20) 303-882-0775

Chris Powers (after July 20) 303-882-0775

NREL Public Affairs, 303-275-4090