Challenge X is a four year competition, year one is design and modeling of your vehicles planned architecture, year two is implementing the design into a mule vehicle, year three is where the vehicle is to end there as show room quality, and finally year four is marketing the vehicle to the local community.

Michigan Technological University entered the competition designing a parallel through the road hybrid. A through the road hybrid simply means that the only connection the electric motor and engine are connected is through the road. The engine powers the front axle while the rear wheels are driven by the electric motor and battery.

One of the aspects that Michigan Tech takes pride in when competing with our vehicle is its weight. We are the lightest hybrid in competition. Some of the components that aid in the weight reduction are aluminum brake rotors, designed by the MTU team and cast at the MTU facilities. Also the polycarbonate widows as well as the lightweight GM rear bench seat help reduce the weight of the vehicle.