Feb. 22 event kicks off School of Computing and Engineering’s observance of National Engineers Week

The University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC) is kicking off the School of Computing and Engineering‘s (SCE) observance of National Engineers Week (Feb. 21-25) with an exclusive Toyota Ride and Drive Event. National Engineers Week will highlight UMKC’s continuing commitment to sustainability and strong ties to local and national companies, like Toyota.

Event Details

WHAT: Bill Reinert, a UMKC College of Arts and Sciences alumnus and national manager of Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A. Inc.’s Advanced Technology Group, will showcase two Toyota Fuel Cell Hybrid Vehicles-Advanced and five Toyota Prius Plug-in Hybrid Vehicles at UMKC. Typically limited to Toyota’s largest markets, the event will allow UMKC friends, students, faculty and staff to see the vehicles up close and learn about their operations. A pre-designated, limited number of people will have the opportunity to drive the vehicles with a Toyota technician, who will explain the vehicle’s operations.

WHEN: 9 a.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 22

WHERE: Near the UMKC Student Union, 5100 Cherry St., Kansas City, Mo.

ADDITIONAL DETAILS: Set to be introduced to the market in 2015, the Toyota Fuel Cell Hybrid Vehicle-Advanced (FCHV-adv) is based on the Toyota Highlander mid-size sport utility vehicle and utilizes the same core Hybrid Synergy Drive (HSD) technology as the Toyota Prius. The FCHV-adv fuel cell system features four compressed hydrogen fuel tanks, an electric motor, a nickel-metal hydride battery and a power control unit. Hydrogen gas is fed into the fuel cell stack, where it is combined with oxygen. The electricity produced by this chemical reaction is used to power the electric motor and charge the battery. In addition to featuring superior fuel economy, the FCHV-adv is smog-free, with water vapor as its only byproduct.

Based on the third generation of the Toyota Prius – the world’s best-selling hybrid vehicle – the Toyota Prius Plug-in Hybrid Vehicle (PHV) offers the best environmental performance of any mass-produced vehicle technology available today. The PHV represents a significant enhancement of Toyota’s HSD system, and combines high-output lithium-ion batteries with HSD technology to offer an expanded fully electric driving mode. The PHV can be recharged in approximately three hours from a standard 110-volt electrical outlet or in one and a half hours with a 220-volt connection. The PHV’s lithium-ion battery pack ensures strong, seamless acceleration up to highway speeds of more than 60 mph on electric-only power. With a fully-charged battery, it can travel a maximum of approximately 13 miles in Electric Vehicle (EV) mode. Once the EV-mode charge is depleted, the vehicle defaults to normal, full-hybrid mode and operates like a regular Prius.

ABOUT BILL REINERT: Reinert graduated from the UMKC College of Arts and Sciences in 1974 with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and his Master’s degree in Energy Engineering from the University of Colorado at Boulder. Reinert joined Toyota in 1990, and helped design the Toyota Prius and the FCHV-adv. Before joining Toyota, Reinert worked in energy engineering at Bell Labs and Hewlett Packard.

Reinert also leads energy and resource management projects in the Galapagos Islands with Toyota’s partner, the World Wildlife Fund. Based on the “Galapagos Energy Blueprint,” co-authored by Reinert, this 10-year project has transformed energy use within the archipelago. He also serves as chair of the electricity sub-group for the Future Transportation Fuels (FTF) study, under the National Petroleum Council.

UMKC’s Commitment to Sustainability

In addition to highlighting an accomplished alumnus who has contributed to major advances in transportation, the Feb. 22 event reinforces UMKC’s commitment to sustainability by showcasing the latest efforts in sustainable mobility. On a daily basis, the university demonstrates its commitment to reducing its carbon footprint through several actions and activities:

• The construction of LEED-certified buildings (Herman and Dorothy Johnson Hall is the first university-owned LEED Certified building in Missouri and the Student Union is anticipated to obtain LEED Silver certification)
• The organization of an 80-plus member UMKC Sustainability Team
• The creation of a campus-wide recycling, composting and waste reduction program
• The use of alternative-fuel vehicles – (UMKC is first U.S. university to operate a zero-emission cargo truck on campus)
• The Clean Commute bicycle loaner program
• The student-led campus community gardens
• A Sustainability minor, which students from all areas of study can declare

UMKC’s National Engineer’s Week Celebration

The theme of the SCE’s 2011 Engineering Week (E-Week) is “Evolution of Engineering and Technology”. Following are some additional E-Week highlights:

Monday, Feb. 21 –

• 4-7 p.m. at Flarsheim Hall 557 and 560L, 5110 Rockhill Rd. – An Xbox gaming competition, hosted by SCE’s Association for Computing Machinery

Tuesday, Feb. 22 –

• 3-4 p.m. at 557 Flarsheim Hall – U.S. Navy career panel
• 4-5 p.m. at 557 Flarsheim Hall – SCE alumni panel
• 5-6 p.m. at Flarsheim Hall’s fifth-floor atrium – SCE alumni networking hour

Wednesday, Feb. 23 –

• 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m. at the University Center’s Pierson Auditorium, 5000 Rockhill Rd. – UMKC Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) Career Fair
• 1-3 p.m. outside Flarsheim Hall – A bottle rocket competition, hosted by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers and Society of Automotive Engineers

Thursday, Feb. 24 –

• 8-10:30 a.m. at Flarsheim Hall’s fifth-floor atrium – Chris Cakes breakfast, hosted by SCE Student Council
• 10 a.m.-3 p.m. at 557 Flarsheim Hall – Blood Drive, hosted by Engineers Without Borders and Missouri Society of Professional Engineers

Friday, Feb. 25 –

• Noon-3 p.m. at Flarsheim Hall’s third floor – Roos Race trivia competition, hosted by the National Society of Black Engineers
• 7 p.m. – A Mr. Engineer contest, hosted by the Society for Women Engineers. Competition will include formal wear, nerdy wear, talent and a trivia bowl.

About UMKC

The University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC), one of four University of Missouri campuses, is a public university serving more than 15,000 undergraduate, graduate and professional students. UMKC engages with the community and economy based on a four-part mission: life and health sciences; visual and performing arts; urban issues and education; and a vibrant learning and campus life experience. For more information about UMKC, visit www.umkc.edu. You can also find us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter and watch us on YouTube.