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In August 1972, the Urban Vehicle Design Competition (UVDC) completed an 18-month program of vehicle design and construction with a national testing event of all vehicles entered in the contest. Sixty-six vehicles from 62 universities in the United States and Canada competed for the top prize. The objectives of the competition were to promote a project-oriented approach to engineering education, as well as to provide students with the opportunity to contribute constructively in the effort to develop low-emission, safe urban vehicles. Some of the more innovative designs appeared in the following areas: 1. Low-pollution powerplants utilizing nonfossil fuels, thermal reactors, catalytic reactors, exhaust gas recirculation systems, and hybrid powerplants. 2. Drunk tester/antitheft devices. 3. Bumper systems capable of protecting a vehicle from damage in a 5 mph impact. 4. Overall integration of automotive systems in small vehicle design.

The Urban Vehicle Design Competition was inspired by the success of the Clean Air Car Race and the Great Electric Car Race. The academic community recognized the tremendous educational value of these events, and encouraged development of UVDC from its inception. The project was designed by engineering students to benefit students throughout North America. The rules of the competition include technical paper requirements that make the competition extremely attractive to professors who wish to build a course around this theme. The response of more than 2000 engineering students at 80 universities throughout the United States and Canada has indicated the success of the structure of the competition. The first major objective of the UVDC project has been met. Ninety-three teams throughout the country entered the UVDC design portion of the contest. The second portion of the project is the prototype contest of August 1972.