BACKGROUND
Automobile magazine dubbed Western Washington University's Vehicle Research Institute "very possibly the best school in the country for total car design." Founder Michael R. Seal, a professor in Western's engineering technology department, has been working with students since 1971 to build award-winning experimental vehicles known for fuel economy and safety. The VRI was officially launched in 1974 and has since drawn worldwide attention including articles in magazines like Omni, Popular Science and New Scientist of London.
A CHRONOLOGY OF RECENT ACHIEVEMENTS
May 1998 - Viking 23 competed in the 1998 American Tour de Sol from NewYork City to Washington D.C. It won 1st place in the DOE Hybrid Class for both Fuel Efficiency and Most Tour Miles.
February 1998 -VRI unveils Viking 29, a ground-up designed two-seat sports car powered by a Thermophotovoltaic (TPV or "Midnight Sun") generator developed under a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) grant in concert with industry partner, J.X. Crystals of Issaquah, WA.
September 1996 - Design and construction begins on Viking 29 to showcase an eight-cylinder TPV generator which uses solar cells to covert methane into near-zero emission energy.
May 1996 - Viking 25, a production Dodge Neon converted to electric/CNG propulsion, sweeps its class in the Tour de Sol road rally winning best Neon conversion, lowest emissions, best use of materials, energy economy, range, consumer acceptance and engineering design.
June 1995 - At the Hybrid Electric Vehicle Challenge outside Detroit, Viking 25 takes first-place honors for consumer acceptability, application of advanced technology, range, and heating, air conditioning and ventilation.
May 1995 - Viking 26, a Formula SAE racer, wins the Goodyear Performance Award in competition at Pontiac's Silverdome.
December 1994 - Dr. Seal receives a five-year $4.5 million Department of Defense grant to develop a prototype TPV for military and civilian uses.
September 1994 - The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) provides a three-year $809,713 grant for TPV development.
August 1994 - Viking 23, a sporty two-seater running on solar/electric power/CNG, debuts.
RECENT AWARDS AND COMPETITIONS
April 1994 - At the Disneyland Clean Air Road Rally, Viking 21 - an electric/CNG hybrid two-seater - takes two first-place U.S. DOE awards: best energy efficiency in its division and best in the hybrid-electric vehicle class. It also places second in the road rally (student hybrid division).
May 1993 - Viking 21 wins its class in the American Tour de Sol in New England, also receiving two awards for energy efficiency from the DOE.
October 1992 - Viking 21 wins its class, and has the best time of the day, in the Pikes Peak Solar Electric Challenge.
July 1991 - The solar-powered Viking XX takes first place in a field of six at the California Clean Air Race.
November 1990 - Viking XX places first in the two-person vehicle class and fifth overall in the World Solar Challenge, a 1,900 mile trek through the Australian Outback.
July 1990 - Viking XX places second in the General Motors Sunrayce USA from Orlando to Warren, Michigan, earning GM sponsorship to the World Solar Challenge.
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