HOUGHTON -- The Clean Snowmobile Challenge is well underway in Houghton. On Wednesday, design teams set up in the Copper Country Mall to display their sleds for the public.
The challenge is headed up by Michigan Tech's Keweenaw Research Center.
The goal of the challenge is to create a fun and marketable sled that meets or exceeds future emissions standards. Sixteen teams from around the country compete with either combustion powered sleds or zero-emissions sleds.
The teams work on their designs for months before testing them in the challenge.
"We made the decision to use this chassis and engine combination based on the ergonomics of the chassis as well as the efficiency of the motor," said MTU senior, Chad Komrey.
"In the distant future, when you have better battery technology that's going to give you a longer distance, the advantage is that the people who live in those areas are not going to be annoyed by the noise of the snowmobile," added Ali Najnabadi from McGill University, Montreal, Quebec.
The Clean Snowmobile Challenge continues throughout the week with more tests on acceleration.
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