Drexel’s American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) will host the first ASME Human Powered Vehicle Challenge (HPVC) April 17-19, 2009 on Drexel’s campus and in Philadelphia’s Fairmont Park. More than 30 teams and 300 competitors from around the country and Central America will race their HPVC's.

“The HPVC gives students a chance to use their engineering knowledge and apply it. Students don't typically get a chance to work hands on until their senior year. It also benefits Drexel by showing the opportunities available within engineering to a national audience and people around the city,” said Nathan Taylor, Treasurer of Drexel’s ASME Drexel Chapter and HPVC East Planning Committee Chair.

HPVC teams will compete to design and build aerodynamic and highly engineered vehicles that can be used for every day activities that include commuting to and from work to even going to the grocery store. Though some vehicles have achieved record speeds of over 60 mph, the competition assigns great value to the elegance and ingenuity of the design, including presentation, practicality, safety and functionality.

The vehicles will be judged on design, safety and performance. The first stage of the competition is the preparation of a comprehensive design report. The second part of the competition includes design presentation and performance events, held over the weekend where the vehicles race against one another in time trials, an endurance event and a utility course. The challenge seeks to inspire the development of practical and sustainable transportation solutions in student designed and built vehicles. For more information, please visit http://www.asme.org/hpv.