Greenville, South Carolina - On September 23rd, more than 100 of the cleanest running advanced technology vehicles on the planet will roll into Sonoma, California to kick off Michelin's fifth annual environmental vehicle competition, Challenge Bibendumä. The event, centered at Sonoma's Infineon Raceway, will run Sept. 23-25, and will feature environmentally positive vehicles from the world's major automakers. This is only the second time that Challenge Bibendum has visited North America.
The 2003 Challenge Bibendum is the largest ever. Participating automakers include: Audi, BMW, DaimlerChrysler, Freightliner, General Motors, Ford, Honda, Hyundai, Isuzu Truck, Nissan, Peugeot, Toyota, Volkswagen, Volvo, and Volvo Truck. Some of the most advanced vehicles in the world will be joined by more than 35 Learning Center technology displays, top industry speakers from Europe, China and the United States, as well as more than 1,000 attendees from 30 countries.
Participants include 11 fuel cell vehicles, 18 hydrogen powered vehicles and an even split between prototypes and production models.
"The 2003 Challenge Bibendum will be incredible," said Ron Musgnug, Michelin's project leader for the 2003 event. "The participation from the manufacturers, policymakers and leading technology developers from around the world has been phenomenal. Attendees to this year's event are sure to get a complete picture of the current situation and future promise for sustainable mobility worldwide as well as drive for themselves some of the most advanced vehicles in existence."
The official kickoff for Challenge Bibendum will be on Sonoma Square, Sept. 23. Testing, press conferences, presentations, information booths and ride n' drives take place at the track on Sept. 24. The event culminates on Sept. 25 with a 100-mile road rally through the Sonoma Valley and across the Golden Gate Bridge into San Francisco.
| 2003 Challenge Bibendum Registered Participants: |
| AC Propulsion | 2003 AC Propulsion tzero | Electric |
| Volkswagen Jetta | Hybrid |
| American Biofuels | Chevrolet Geo Metro | Bio-diesel |
| Chevrolet Geo Metro | Bio-diesel |
| American Honda | 2003 Acura MDX Touring | ICE / Gasoline |
| 2003 Honda Accord EX | ICE / Gasoline |
| 2003 Honda Civic GX | ICE | CNG |
| 2003 Honda Civic Hybrid CVT | Hybrid Gasoline / Electric |
| 2003 Honda Element 2 WD EX | ICE / Gasoline |
| 2003 Honda FCX Fuel Cell | Gaseous Hydrogen |
| 2003 Honda Insight | Hybrid Gasoline / Electric |
| Anuvu | Suzuki Esteem Hybrid | Gaseous Hydrogen |
| Audi | 2003 Audi A8 4.0 TDI quattro | ICE / Diesel |
| DaimlerChrysler | 2004 Chrysler PT Cruiser | Bio-diesel |
| 2004 Chrysler PT Cruiser | Bio-diesel |
| 2004 Chrysler Voyager | Bio-diesel |
| 2004 Chrysler Voyager | Bio-diesel |
| 2004 Dodge Ram 2500 | Bio-diesel |
| 2004 Dodge Ram 2500 | Bio-diesel |
| 2002 Mercedes-Benz F-Cell A-Class | Fuel Cell / Gaseous Hydrogen |
| Mercedes-Benz | Citaro | Fuel Cell / Gaseous Hydrogen |
| Coqueline Courreges | 2002 Courreges La Bulle r | Electric |
| Ebus Inc. | 2003 Ebus Vintage Trolley | Electric Motor |
| ECD Ovonics | 2003 Toyota Prius | ICE / Gaseous Hydrogen |
| Fairfield-Suisun United School District |
| 2002 International School Bus | ICE / Diesel |
| Ford Motor Company | 2003 Ford Focus FCV | Fuel Cell / Gaseous Hydrogen |
| 2003 Ford Focus FCV | Fuel Cell / Gaseous Hydrogen |
| 2003 Ford Focus H2ICE | ICE | Gaseous Hydrogen |
| 2003 Ford Focus H2RV | Hybrid / Gaseous Hydrogen |
| 2003 Ford MY E-350 Wagon | CNG |
| Freightliner LLC | 2000 Century Class Day Cab | Diesel |
| Freightliner LLC | Century S/T | Diesel |
| General Motors | 2000 Chevrolet Malibu | ICE / Gasoline |
| Chevrolet S10-Pick-up Truck | Electric |
| 2002 FIAT STILO | ICE / Diesel |
| 2002 GM Hy-Wire | Fuel Cell / Gaseous Hydrogen |
| 2003 GMC SIERRA | Hybrid Electric |
| 2001 GMC Sierra | ICE / Gasoline |
| 2002 GMC Yukon | ICE / Ethanol (E85) |
| 2002 Opel Zafira | Fuel Cell Liquid Hydrogen |
| 2003 Saturn VUE | ICE / Gasoline |
| 2003 Saturn VUE | ICE / Gasoline |
| 2001 Gillig Standard Floor 40' | Hybrid Electric |
| Harris Ranch Feeding Company |
| 2000 Freightliner 3-Axle Tractor/Trailer | Liquid Natural Gas |
| Hyundai | 2001 Santa Fe FCEV | Fuel Cell / Gaseous Hydrogen |
| 2002 Santa Fe FCHEV | Fuel Cell | Gaseous Hydrogen |
| Intergalactic Hydrogen/Institute of Ecolonomics |
| Toyota Tacoma | ICE / Gaseous Hydrogen |
| Isuzu Motors Inc. and Westport Innovations Inc. |
| 2003 Isuzu Motors Ltd. Elf CNG-DI | Compressed Natural Gas |
| Michigan Tech Future Truck |
| 2002 Ford Hybrid Explorer | Hybrid Electric |
| Napa Valley School District |
| Blue Bird Electric Transit School Bus | Electric Motor |
| Nissan North America | 2004 Nissan Altima | Gasoline |
| 2002 Nissan Hypermini | Electric Motor (6 cars) |
| 2004 Nissan Murano | Gasoline |
| 2004 Nissan Murano | Gasoline |
| 2004 Nissan Sentra | Gasoline |
| 2004 Nissan Sentra | Gasoline |
| Nissan | Xterra FCV | Hybrid / Gaseous Hydrogen |
| Norcal Sanitary Fill/Cummins Westport Inc. |
| 2001 Peterbilt 378 Daycab | Liquid Natural Gas (LNG) |
| Pacific Gas & Electric | 2001 Freightliner Fl 70 | Compressed Natural Gas |
| PETER SARGEANT | NG TF | LPG/Propane |
| Robert Bosch Corp. | 2004 Audi A8 TDI quattro | ICE / Diesel |
| 2003 BMW 330d | ICE / Diesel |
| 2004 BMW 530d | ICE / Diesel |
| 2003 BMW 740d | ICE / Diesel |
| 2003 BMW X5 3.0d | ICE / Diesel |
| 2003 Mercedes | E 320d | ICE / Diesel |
| 2003 Mini ONE D | ICE / Diesel |
| 2001 Peugeot 607 Hdi | ICE / Diesel |
| 2003 Volkswagen Passat TDI 4motion | ICE / Diesel |
| 2003 Volkswagen Touareg V10 TDI | ICE / Diesel |
| 2002 Volvo S80 D5 | ICE / Diesel |
| 2003 Volvo XC90 D5 | ICE / Diesel |
| SAM | 2001 Ford Crown Victoria | LPG/Propane |
| SoMo | Solar Motions SoMo | Electric |
| The Ecological Engine Company |
| 2000 Westfield Seight | LPG/Propane |
| LTI Fairway Driver | LPG/Propane |
| Thor/ISE Fuel Cell Bus 2001 ElDorado EZ Rider Low Floor | Hybrid/Gaseous Hydrogen |
| Toyota | 2004 Lexus RX 330 | ICE / Gasoline |
| 2004 Toyota Camry PZEV | ICE / Gasoline |
| 2003 Toyota FCHV | Fuel Cell/Gaseous Hydrogen |
| 2003 Toyota FCHV | Fuel Cell/Gaseous Hydrogen |
| 2004 Toyota Prius | Hybrid |
| 2003 Toyota Prius | Hybrid |
| 2004 Toyota Sienna | ICE / Gasoline |
| U.S. EPA | 2003 Ford F550 | Hybrid / Diesel |
| UC Davis HEV Center | 2000 Chevrolet Suburban | Hybrid / Gasoline |
| 2002 Ford Explorer | Hybrid / Ethanol (E85) |
| Ford Taurus | Hybrid / Electricity |
| Mercury Sable | Hybrid / Electricity |
| University of Wisconsin 2002 Ford Explorer | Hybrid / Bio-diesel |
| Mercury Sable | Hybrid / Bio-diesel |
| |
| Volvo Cars | 2003 Volvo S60 PZEV | ICE / Gasoline |
| 2002 Volvo S80 CNG Bifuel | Compressed Natural Gas |
| 2002 Volvo V70 CNG Bi-Fuel | Compressed Natural Gas |
| 2004 Volvo V70 PZEV | ICE / Gasoline |
| 2003 Volvo V70 PZEV Wagon | ICE / Gasoline |
| 2004 Volvo S60 PZEV | ICE / Gasoline |
| Volvo Trucks North America |
| 2002 Volvo VNM | ICE / Diesel |
| 2003 Volvo VN780 Tech Truck | ICE / Diesel |
| ZAP | 2004 Zap Heibao HV | Electric Motor |
| 2003 Zap LUV | Electric Motor |
For more information visit the Challenge Bibendum website at www.challengebibendum.com.
