Cal Poly HPV Pedals to First Place

SAN LUIS OBISPO – Cal Poly’s Human Powered Vehicle kicked up some dust at the Western Division HPV Competition hosted in April by the University of Nevada, Reno.

Competing against nearly three dozen other teams from across the Western U.S., along with teams from as far away as Connecticut, the Cal Poly HPV took first place in the men's sprint event. Pedal-powered by mechanical engineering student Andrew Ouellet, the vehicle reached a top speed of over 46 miles per hour.

Named Athena after the Greek goddess of wisdom, art, industry and skill, the Cal Poly HPV entry combined state of the art fiber composite design with extensive computer aided modeling and wind tunnel testing. One of the lightest and fastest Cal Poly HPVs in the 25 year history of this event, Athena also took second in overall design.

Sponsored by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, the Human Powered Vehicle Competition is an international event. Competitions are also held in the eastern United States, as well as in South America.

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