The UVM Alternative Energy Racing Organization (AERO) hybrid car is in final performance testing in preparation for the 2009 Formula Hybrid SAE Competition to be held May 4-6, 2009 in Loudon, New Hampshire. UVM AERO students from the UVM College of Engineering and Mathematical Sciences (CEMS) will compete against approximately 30 teams from as far away as India and Russia. Advised by Professors Jeff Frolik and Paul Hines, the UVM students who have worked on AERO include: Brian Leach, a junior in mechanical engineering, AERO president and leader for mechanics on the car; Charley Robinson, a graduate student in computer science and the lead in control systems work; and Christopher Farmer, a graduate student in electrical engineering and the lead in battery system development. The UVM hybrid car, GreenSpeed, is an all-wheel-drive vehicle powered by a small (250 cc) four-cycle gas engine working in tandem with a powerful electric motor powered by lithium-ion batteries. In 2008, AERO's first entry won several awards for innovative design. The 2009 competition contains multiple facets including: General Presentation, Technical Design, Acceleration, Autocross and Endurance. UVM AERO will make general and technical design presentations, with industrial professionals grilling team members on every aspect of the car. "Substantial improvements have been made to the car's energy storage and control systems,' says AERO Electrical Lead Christopher Farmer. For just a few examples of this year's UVM AERO in action, watch UVM AERO Gen-1 Electric Drive Only, UVM AERO Gen-1 Car Driving Under Hybrid Power, and UVM AERO Gen-1 Full Contol System Functionality. (For more videos and photos, go to the UVM AERO website.) Work has also started on a new vehicle with a mechanical system that will unify the drive train into a single "transaxle," making the vehicle lighter, nimbler and more efficient. The Generation 2 vehicle will also feature a new heads-up display system that will provide valuable information to the driver. AERO promotes green technologies and advocates for research and development of alternative energy systems for mobility engineering. The AERO team has garnered financial and technical support from many organizations, including the IEEE Green Mountain Section, VELCO, the Vermont National Guard, Vermont Space Grant Consortium, Hazelett Strip Casting, Anderson Power Products, iTherm, MicroStrain, CTS Corp., UVM's Instrument Modeling Facility, evdrive.com Elithion, and PowerStream.