GM comes to campus to demonstrate fuel efficient vehicles

St. Louis, Mo., Jan. 22, 2007 -- Engineers from General Motors (www.gm.com) will come to the Washington University Danforth campus Thursday, Jan. 25, 2007 at Whitaker Hall to discuss their fuel-efficient technologies and vehicles from 3 to 5 p.m. that day.

In addition, Washington University will be presenting an overview of its research and educational efforts in the energy and environmental area, as well as providing a vision of the newly created Department of Energy, Environmental and Chemical Engineering (www.eec.wustl.edu). Following these presentations in the Whitaker Hall Auditorium that begin at 3 p.m., vehicles will be on display in the Whitaker Hall parking lot near the corner of Forest Park Parkway and Skinker Boulevard.

Pratim Biswas, Ph.D., the Stifel and Quinette Jens Professor and Chair of the Department of Energy, Environmental and Chemical Engineering, will share the department's vision on energy and environment, including alternative fuels and energy sources, air quality research, nanoparticle technology and particle emission control, among other topics. He will outline the University's efforts in the development of energy and environmental technologies. He will also describe the ambitious BioEnergy Initiative at Washington University, which is focused on the development of technologies for the production of next generation biofuels. The adoption of a systems approach will not only enable development processes for large volume production of liquid fuels from plant-based sources, but also at a low cost; and most importantly in an environmentally benign manner -- not only during the production, but also during the actual usage.

Biswas holds four patents and is author of more than 150 refereed journal articles. His expertise is in aerosol science and technology, nanoparticle technology and environmentally benign energy production.

Eric Kaufman, an engineer in the GM Energy Center, will give a presentation on GM's efforts, followed by a question-answer session.

GM engineers are touring the country with their GM Fuel Economy Tour demonstrating many of these fuel-efficient technologies and vehicles. GM will demonstrate the fuel-saving features and benefits of its new hybrid vehicle, the Saturn Vue Green Line. The Vue Green Line delivers an estimated 20-percent improvement in fuel economy, depending upon driving conditions. It is expected to deliver an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimated 27 mpg in the city and the best highway mileage of any SUV at 32 mpg.

In addition to saving money at the pump, GM is focused on reducing the dependence on petroleum by developing flex fuel vehicles. GM brand E85 FlexFuel vehicles can run on any combination of gasoline and/or E85, a fuel blend of 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline. E85 ethanol can contribute to energy independence because it diversifies the source of transportation fuels beyond petroleum, and it provides positive environmental benefits in the form of reduced greenhouse gas emissions. GM will showcase an E85 capable Chevy Tahoe at the event.

Additionally, GM will share tips consumers should follow to maximize the fuel-saving benefits of their vehicles.