Anderson, who spent fourteen hours per day, seven days per week with the team in Dearborn, was proud. Tech didn't win in this first round of the competition, but came in a respectable seventh out of twelve schools. They want to move this smaller engine up front to avoid the hot-engine compartment problems they had last time, which caused parts failures and higher emissions. The team is also looking into smaller lead acid batteries, after considering nickel metal hydride but learning the charging requirements were too strict to be used in a hybrid vehicle. Although the second year of the competition involves less theory, the students will have to solve finer aspects of increasingly complex problems.
Weight reduction is a major issue when increasing mileage is a factor.
The NorthWind still weighed about 700 pounds more than a standard Intrepid. For year two they may want to make the hood and trunk lighter. The students need to factor in testing and safety criteria with cost. Customer comfort and satisfaction as well as tighter emissions standards will play a bigger role in the second round of competition. Hortop has high hopes.