Model Victory

January 28, 2022 | News, UToday, Alumni, Engineering
By Daniel Miller



Members of The University of Toledo Chem-E Car Team recently showcased their chem-e-car that took first place at a national competition in November to Tony Howell, far right, vice president of manufacturing at Formlabs Ohio, an alumnus of the UToledo chemical engineering program. The chem-e-car was built using a Formlabs 3D printer and resin.

The UToledo team took first place in the 2021 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Annual Student Conference Chem-E Car Competition in Boston, competing against more than 20 universities worldwide.

The goal of the chem-e car competition is to create a shoebox-sized car powered by a chemical reaction that will travel a target distance and stop accurately by a chemical reaction.

The target distance during the competition was 21.05 meters, and their chem-e car, named Zinc-asaurus Rex because it’s propelled forward by a homemade zinc nickel oxyhydroxide alkaline battery, stopped just 10 centimeters from the target distance to seize the victory in the international chem-e car competition.

From left, Levi Jones, Derek Etzler, Asa Killan, Tony Howell, Dane Michael, Jon Bonkoski and Nick Trumbull.

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