Beijing students' rubber band-powered car wins top prize at Formula E Race

Students from Beijing University of Technology captured the top award Thursday in the 2014 Formula E race hosted by the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California.

Twelve college teams composed of students from the US and China and five professional teams competed in various competitions that required all cars to be propelled by rubber bands.

The Best in Show award was presented to the team Final-E from Beijing University of Technology.

The teams were sweating it out as their radio remote controlled rubber band-powered cars zoomed around the track for five hours.

Some 65 teams competed in China earlier this year and sent their best teams representing the China Academy of Art and Beijing University of Technology to compete with eight teams of American students from the Art Center College of Design and Pasadena City College.

This year the event also highlighted featured a "pro class" completion sector, involving team whose members come from companies and college faculties.

The competition presents several awards including Sinclair Hill Climb, Ashtray Drag Race, Figure 8, and Best Design.

As a design challenge that pushes the boundaries of performance, this project teaches lessons in strategy, product development, science, engineering, design, fabrication, testing and evaluation, branding, communications, and event planning through a fun and product development experience.

Faculty from each team guide students through the 13-week process of planning, designing and making rubber band-powered cars to compete in the race.

Judging was based on a variety of criteria including quality, craftsmanship, materials, style, engineering, branding, innovation, and, of course, performance.

The judges included Art Center President Lorne Buchman, Pasadena City College President Mark Rocha, Disney Imagineering R&D, representatives of visual arts design firms, science and research companies, and designers from Honda, Tesla Motors and Toyota.

Among the many special guests in attendance were Pasadena Mayor Bill Bogard, and Caldwell Design principal John Caldwell.