Newswise — NEW YORK, Apr. 9, 2013 – Student engineering teams representing four California State University branches and five other universities in the state – including San Jose State University – will compete in the 2013 ASME (American Society of Mechanical Engineers) Human Powered Vehicle Challenge West to be held Apr. 12-14, in San Jose.

San Jose State University and nearby Hellyer County Park Velodrome are the venues for the popular event, in which students put aerodynamically designed vehicles through speed and endurance tests on designated courses. The environmentally friendly pedal-powered prototypes will also be judged on maneuverability, practicality and design efficiency and safety.

Going by such names as The Comet and Blue Bullet, the super bikes incorporate engineering innovations allowing optimum performance and functionality, as well as structural soundness and safety. The competition will feature the vehicles in a series of sprint, endurance, design and other events.

The sprint race is scheduled for Friday evening, Apr. 12, at the Hellyer County Park Velodrome, with the remaining events shifting to the campus of San Jose State University on Apr. 13-14.

HPVC West is one of four HPVC events that ASME is organizing in 2013. HPVC Latin America was held in February, and HPVC East will be held April 26-28 at Ferris State University in Big Rapids, Mich. HPVC India is planned for December.

“The HPVC program provides an opportunity for engineering students to apply sound engineering principles to the development of fast and efficient transportation systems,” said Marc W. Goldsmith, president of ASME. “We look forward to an exciting and fun-filled event.”

Judges will award cash prizes and trophies to the top teams in each category. For information, visit http://www.asme.org/events/competitions/human-powered-vehicle-challenge-(hpvc)

HPVC West TeamsNote to Editor: This list is subject to change

PEC University of TechnologyRose-Hulman Institute of TechnologyMontana State UniversityUniversity of MontanaColorado State UniversityCalifornia State University, ChicoCalifornia State University, Long BeachCalifornia State University, FresnoCalifornia State University, NorthridgeCalifornia Polytechnic State University, San Luis ObispoUniversity of California, BerkeleySanta Clara UniversityEast Los Angeles CollegeSan Jose State UniversityLamar UniversityArizona State University University of ArizonaNorthern Arizona UniversityUniversity of OklahomaUtah State UniversityUniversity of UtahUniversity of Texas, DallasUniversity of Nevada, RenoSouth Dakota School of Mines and TechnologyBrigham Young UniversityMissouri University of Science and TechnologyUniversity of MiamiITESM Campus Guadalajara

About ASMEASME helps the global engineering community develop solutions to real world challenges. Founded in 1880 as the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, ASME is a not-for-profit professional organization that enables collaboration, knowledge sharing and skill development across all engineering disciplines, while promoting the vital role of the engineer in society. ASME codes and standards, publications, conferences, continuing education and professional development programs provide a foundation for advancing technical knowledge and a safer world.