Snap-on Inc. has teamed up with EcoCAR: The NeXt Challenge, a collegiate competition focused on the development of innovative technologies for the next generation of low emission, fuel efficient vehicles.

Snap-on will join up with engineering students across the country as they explore a variety of cutting-edge clean vehicle solutions and create a blueprint for how cars of the future will be manufactured and maintained.

“We are honored to be part of this exciting and cutting-edge educational project,” says Ben Brenton, chief innovation officer for Snap-on. “For almost 90 years, Snap-on has set the standard when it comes to innovation and technology and we feel privileged to be able to provide our state-of-the art tools to each of the very talented EcoCAR Challenge teams.”

Snap-on tools and tool storage systems have recently been delivered to the participating colleges and universities and those deliveries coincided with the receipt of each team’s Saturn Vue vehicles.

“Snap-on looks forward to working closely with the teams as some of our nation’s brightest minds put Snap-on tools to work to identify breakthrough solutions that will have a lasting impact on both the environment and the automotive industry," Brenton adds. "Importantly, the EcoCar Challenge affords Snap-on the unique ability to be at the forefront in providing innovative solutions for the unique needs associated with building and repairing the next generation of automobiles."

EcoCAR: The NeXt Challenge is a three-year collegiate advanced vehicle technology engineering competition established by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and General Motors (GM) and is being managed by Argonne National Laboratory.

The competition challenges 17 universities across North America to reduce the environmental impact of vehicles by minimizing a vehicle’s fuel consumption and reducing its emissions while retaining the vehicle’s performance, safety and consumer appeal.

For more information, visit www.ecocarchallenge.org.