The U.S. Department of Energy and General Motors Co. recently announced the official launch of the EcoCAR 3 competition, introducing the 16 participating universities and revealing the Chevrolet Camaro as the vehicle selected as the platform for the competition.
(Read about the finalists in the EcoCAR2 Challenge as The Ohio State University “raced” to a win by clicking here: )
“EcoCAR is an opportunity for the next generation of automotive engineers to help design and build innovative advanced vehicles that will reduce greenhouse gas emissions, protect the environment and save American families and businesses money at the pump,” said Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz. “Through this competition, North American students gain valuable real-life experience that they can use to bring the auto industry into the cleaner energy future.”
EcoCAR 3 is the latest U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Advanced Vehicle Technology Competition (AVTC) series and is North America’s premier collegiate automotive engineering competition.
The U.S. DOE and General Motors are challenging 16 North American universities to redesign a Chevrolet Camaro into a hybrid-electric car that will reduce environmental impact, while maintaining the muscle and performance expected from this iconic American car.
See the video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yd5tiTbQwAg
While the model is the most technologically advanced Camaro in the vehicle’s history, EcoCAR 3 teams will be tasked to incorporate innovative ideas, solve complex engineering challenges, and apply the latest cutting-edge technologies. Teams have four years (2014-2018), to harness those ideas into energy to meet engineering, environmental and economic goals. The Camaro will keep its iconic body design, while student teams develop and implement eco-power and performance under the hood, retain safety and meet high consumer standards. The teams also will focus on developing technology that will lower emissions by incorporating alternative fuels.
During the four-year program (2014-2018), EcoCAR 3 teams will follow the EcoCAR Vehicle Development Process (EVDP), which aligns with General Motors’ vehicle development process and establish a plan for research and development, analysis, and validation of the EcoCAR 3 vehicle design.
EcoCAR 3 teams will be challenged to make innovations in many vehicle technology areas, including:
- Energy Storage System design and integration
- Hardware and Software-in-the-loop testing
- Center stack development
- Powertrain component bench testing
- Use of vehicle modeling and simulation tools
- Improving aerodynamics
Participating Schools Include
- Arizona State University
- California State University – Los Angeles
- Colorado State University
- Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
- Georgia Institute of Technology
- McMaster University
- Mississippi State University
- Ohio State University
- Pennsylvania State University
- University of Tennessee, Knoxville
- University of Alabama
- University of Washington
- University of Waterloo
- Virginia Tech
- Wayne State University
- West Virginia University
For more information, visit http://www.ecocar3.com/