University of Akron, Northern Illinois University, and SUNY Polytechnic Institute are NFPA Fluid Power Vehicle Challenge Grand Champions

May 22, 2025 — University of Akron, Northern Illinois University, and SUNY Polytechnic Institute earned top honors as Overall Champions of the 2025 NFPA Fluid Power Vehicle Challenge. The events were hosted by NFPA member companies Danfoss Power Solutions, IFP Motion Solutions, Inc., and IMI in three separate locations throughout April.

The NFPA Vehicle Challenge is a competition that combines two technology platforms that are not normally associated with one another-human powered vehicles and fluid power. Teams design and build their own fluid power vehicles and then compete against each other in four races with the help of NFPA industry sponsors, judges, and mentors. This year’s competition included 26 teams with 167 students, which was made possible by the support and involvement of 31 different member companies serving as sponsors, mentors and judges.

The champions of the IMI-hosted event are:

• 1st Place: SUNY Polytechnic Institute
• 2nd Place: University of Utah
• 3rd Place: University of Alabama at Birmingham

Held April 9–11 in Rockford, IL

The champions of the Danfoss-hosted event are:

• 1st Place: Northern Illinois University
• 2nd Place: Cleveland State University
• 3rd Place: FAMU-FSU College of Engineering

Held April 23–25 in Ames, IA

The champions of the IFP-hosted event are:

• 1st Place: University of Akron
• 2nd Place: South Dakota State University
• 3rd Place: California Polytechnic State University

Held April 30–May 2 in Cedar Rapids, IA

Specific awards are given at each competition to highlight the use of pneumatics and electronics in the teams’ designs. The prize for Best Use of Pneumatics, sponsored by IMI, was taken home by the University of Utah, Purdue University, and California Polytechnic State University. The prize for Best Use of Electronics, sponsored by IFP Motion Solutions, Inc., was awarded to the University of Alabama at Birmingham, Cleveland State University, and University of Akron.

Thank you to the NFPA Foundation donors who support this program:

Event Hosts

• Danfoss Power Solutions
• IFP Motion Solutions, Inc.
• IMI

Program Sponsors

• Applied Fluid Power
• IFP Motion Solutions, Inc.
• IMI
• SunSource

Founding Sponsor

• Parker Hannifin Corporation

Product Suppliers

• Brennan Industries
• Danfoss Power Solutions
• Famic Technologies Inc.
• HYDAC
• Helios Technologies
• Lubrizol
• Source Fluid Power