"We dominated our competition and won every category that we were comparatively scored in," Nathan Hansen, USU electric snowmobile team leader, said about competition staged earlier this month in Houghton, Mich.

Despite facing tough sledding, the team and the electric snowmobile they designed were honored for best zero-emissions design and range, best overall zero-emissions and a Rookie of the Year award.

The students' electric snowmobile competed head-to-head with gas-powered snowmobiles in every event, impressing judges with its handling, design, practicality, comfort, range and noise level. USU's machine, though, was graded in a separate zero-emissions category.

“We competed along with the gas snowmobiles, but we were not scored against them or eligible to win awards in the main competition categories,” Hansen said. “So even though we provided what was by far the cleanest snowmobile, we were not eligible to win. We are currently in the process of appealing to have this changed for next year's competition.”

- Arrin Brunson