Michelin and WestStart-CALSTART will work together to coordinate heavy-duty truck and commercial bus participants for the 2003 Challenge Bibendum. WestStart-CALSTART will also assist with entries to the Learning Center, a display of environmental technologies and resources that complements the event. The heavy-duty competition for this year's Challenge Bibendum will be broken into several classes based on gross vehicle weight:
- Class 6-7 pick-up and delivery vehicles
- Class 8 trucks
- Buses, both city transit and highway
- Other vehicles, including military ones
Each class of commercial vehicles will be evaluated in four specific categories: emission, noise, fuel economy, and acceleration. Michelin will also conduct measures of fuel use during overnight idling for Class 8 trucks and will attempt to incorporate this issue into reported outcomes.
The 2003 Challenge Bibendum will be held Sept 23-25 in Sonoma and San Francisco CA. It will feature vehicle testing at Infineon Raceway and a rally of environmental vehicles through the Sonoma Valley and across the Golden Gate Bridge. Manufacturers and innovators interested in participating in Challenge Bibendum should submit a registration form through the web site at www.challengebibendum.com.