UND students closed the book on the solar age in grand style Friday with the unveiling the school's first car powered by a hydrogen fuel cell.

About 30 students representing wide-ranging academic disciplines put the finishing touches on the vehicle just before the unveiling, which took place before a crowd of about 250 people at the Betty Engelstad Sioux Center.

Josh Howland, president of UND's Society for Energy Alternatives, said he got no sleep in 48 hours because of a rush to get the car finished on time. He said the large audience that showed up Friday to see the sleek futuristic-looking car, dubbed "SubZero IV," made the effort worth it.

Among the attendees were students from West Elementary in Grand Forks, Sacred Heart of East Grand Forks and West Fargo High School.

Howland said that UND has produced three previous models of energy powered cars all powered by solar energy.

"This is great," Howland said. "Our advisor told us that back in 1999 when one of our solar cars was unveiled only 17 people showed up. As long as we could beat that I'm happy."

Race ready

The society is preparing to run the hydrogen fuel cell car in two upcoming international races: the Formula Sun Grand Prix in Topeka, Kan., and the North American Solar Challenge, from Austin, Texas, to Calgary, Alta. The latter race runs through Grand Forks.

Because both races are for solar-powered cars, UND's will run as an exhibition.

UND's new car was designed and constructed over the past two years. Its fuel cell is a proton exchange membrane that weighs about the same as a combustion engine and could easily fit in the trunk of a car. Its operating temperature also is about the same as a typical car's engine.

The fuel cell produces electricity without burning traditional fossil fuels.

Andrew Hexum, a society member, said that UND's car should be able to maintain a cruising speed up to 50 mph, but it's designed to travel as fast as 65 mph.

"I had my doubts we could be successful in this area, but the students persevered," said UND engineering school Dean John Watson, recalling when UND students told him they wanted to abandon solar technology for hydrogen power.

Team effort

Students from UND's School of Engineering and Mines were among those that worked on the car. Faculty from the school served as advisors.

John Deere donated the $150,000 fuel cell for the two-passenger car. Toronto-based Hydrogenics Corp., which specializes in hydrogen fuel cell development, offered technical support.

Bruce Wood, formerly of John Deere, now president of ePower Synergies, said it's appropriate that the unveiling of UND's car took place Friday Earth Day.

"This fuel cell became the heart of the vehicle, but it's soul was born some 35 years earlier at the first Earth Day," Wood said.

He said the UND students' efforts are part of the legacy the founders of the environmental celebration envisioned.

Wood alluded to realities that continue to prevent a widespread hydrogen powered economy from taking off, such as expense. However, he said, there was a time, about 100 years ago, when cars powered by internal combustible engines were seen as impractical.

"It used a very hard to find fuel gasoline and it was expensive," Wood said. "Sounds familiar, doesn't it?"