Think you can build a better hybrid car?

Six months ago, I had the great pleasure of interviewing the organizers and winners of the 2008 Formula Hybrid International Competition, an annual event that encourages student teams from around the world to build -- and race -- high-performance hybrid vehicles.



The 2009 competition just opened for entries, and I can't wait to see what the teams come up with this year.

The contest is organized by the Thayer School of Engineering at Dartmouth College, and endorsed by the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE). Both undergraduate and graduate-level students are eligible.

Teams are judged for their cars' endurance, acceleration and design, as well as the students' presentation skills.

The contest is a great way to test out new ideas and new technologies. It's also a fantastic team-building exercise. In order to develop an effective (and winning) vehicle, it's absolutely essential for mechanical engineers and electrical engineers to work together. You also need people on your team to think about logistics (such as how you're going to get your car to the racetrack in New Hampshire) and funding (building a car ain't cheap!). Students will need to make presentations about their vehicles, and of course, someone has to actually race them!

Entering the competition could put your career pedal to the metal. Representatives from auto companies are among the judges, and from what I heard, quite a few business cards were passed out last year to prospective employees.

Interested? Then get moving! The 2009 race isn't until May 4, but that leaves less than six months to plan and build your hybrid vehicles. So go for it!