Human Powered Vehicle Challenge (HPVC)

Details regarding the 2012 and 2013 events are continuously updated as information becomes available and confirmed. For registration details and instructions please visit the event page you plan to attend.

HPVC Latin America
Universidad Simon Bolivar
Caracas, Venezuela
February 15-17, 2013
Registration coming soon

HPVC East
Grove City College
Grove City, PA
April 27-29, 2012
East Results

HPVC West
Miller Motorsports Park,
Tooele, UT
May 4-6, 2012
West Results

Sponsored by
Knovel


OVERVIEW

Human-powered transport is often the only type available in underdeveloped or inaccessible parts of the world, and if well designed, can be an increasingly viable form of sustainable transportation.

ASME's international Human Powered Vehicle Challenge (HPVC) provides an opportunity for students to demonstrate the application of sound engineering design principles in the development of sustainable and practical transportation alternatives.In the HPVC, students work in teams to design and build efficient, highly engineered vehicles for everyday use—from commuting to work, to carrying goods to market.

 

ELIGIBILITY & REQUIREMENTS

All participants must be current student members of ASME and enrolled as full-time students in an engineering program of study. Any student who was enrolled in an engineering program during the previous semester or quarter, but graduated no earlier than six months prior to the competition date, is eligible to participate.

The first stage of the competition involves the preparation of a comprehensive design report. The second part includes a demonstration of a technical innovation included in the design, a speed event (either 100 meter flying start time trial or head-to-head drag race) and a 2.5 hour endurance race held over the course of a weekend. Guidelines and more detailed requirements (including safety measures and tests) can be found in the full competition rules.

 

DATES & LOCATIONS

ASME currently hosts three HPVC events each year—in the Eastern and Western regions of the US in the spring, and one in Latin America in the fall.

 

AWARDS & PRIZES

The following list reflects the minimum prize increments for winners of the Human Powered Vehicle Challenge. Additional prizes and/or special award categories may apply, as determined by the ASME HPVC Committee and host institution.

Prizes listed below represent total amounts conferred to winning teams, not to individual team members. Each winning Team Leader will be responsible for claiming his/her team prize following the competition, and is thereby responsible for the distribution of award monies to his/her teammates. Team Contact/Leader will contact ASME staff via e-mail to facilitate the payment process following the HPVC events.

OVERALL AWARD CATEGORY PRIZE
  Overall 1st Place Trophy and $800 to team
  Overall 2nd Place Trophy and $500 to team
  Overall 3rd Place Trophy and $300 to team
INDIVIDUAL EVENTS AWARD CATEGORY PRIZE
DESIGN EVENT 1st Place Trophy and $200
  2nd and 3rd Place Trophy
MEN'S SPEED EVENT 1st Place Trophy and $200
  2nd and 3rd Place Trophy
WOMEN'S SPEED EVENT 1st Place Trophy and $200
  2nd and 3rd Place Trophy
ENDURANCE EVENT 1st Place Trophy and $200
  2nd and 3rd Place Trophy