April 2010

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Virginia Tech and Ohio State University EcoCAR Teams in the Spotlight

April 30, 2010 in EcoCAR News by ggguest | 2 comments

We think all the EcoCAR teams are pretty great. But when others recognize their hard work and contributions to engineering, it’s even better. 

This week, The College of Engineering at Virginia Tech and College of Engineering Ohio State University received a prestigious nod in U.S. News & World Report‘s “America’s Best Graduate Schools” 2011 survey. Ironically, both schools were tied at 25th as the best U.S. school for graduate studies.  

VT EcoCAR team with their vehicle

Virginia Tech’s engineering school – which currently includes 2,000 graduates students – rose two spots from last year’s survey and was also recently featured in an article in Virginia Tech News.  To view the entire “U.S. News and World Report” survey, please click here. Congrats teams! 

 

Both the OSU and VT teams also were thrilled to be profiled by Keith Barry at WIRED. During the past few months, Keith spent time catching up with the students as they get ready for Finals and today, the second profile in his series went online. You can read the full article on the VT EcoCAR team here and the OSU EcoCAR profile here.

How the EcoCAR Teams Celebrated Earth Day 2010

April 29, 2010 in Team Posts, Video Blogs by ggguest | No comments

Many EcoCAR students live every day like it’s Earth Day, but on April 22, several teams held special events in recognition of Earth Day 2010. Read about the celebrations below for ideas on how to make Earth Day 2011 an even better event on your own campus.

Every year, Georgia Tech hosts an Earth Day event for more than 3,000 people and 70 exhibitors. This year, the theme was “Celebrate Our World” and featured eco-friendly giveaways, recycling opportunities, a clothing swap, office supply exchange, live music, and organic popcorn. The Georgia Tech EcoCAR team was on site and shared the team’s efforts to create a greener Earth.

Georgia Tech's EcoCAR display at the Earth Day event

Penn State’s Advanced Vehicle Technologies (AVT) team celebrated Earth Day by joining forces with other organizations on campus to hand out eco-friendly freebies and participate in green trivia. The highlight of the day was a water bottle exchange – each student that recycled a plastic water bottle received a free reusable bottle. The response was overwhelming and the Penn State team donated the plastic bottles to an organization that was building an eco-house out of bottles on campus.

Penn State students participating in the water bottle exchange

Virginia Tech’s Hybrid Electric Team (HEVT) participated in Earth Week on campus, promoting alternative clean transportation like riding the bus, walking or biking to class. Students who don’t drive to campus received a free t-shirt and were entered into a raffle for a free bike.

The team’s extended-range electric EcoCAR was on display on campus, alongside an all electric vehicle, a hybrid and a biodiesel bus. Towards the end of the event HEVT even got to show off their vehicle running in all electric mode!

Virginia Tech's EcoCAR on display during Earth Week

The Missouri S&T EcoCAR team talked to more than 1,000 local students about the importance of renewable energy, clean energy, and energy conservation on Earth Day. The theme of the school’s annual celebration was, “Be Green! Keep the Planet Clean.”

Take a look at the Missouri S&T Earth Day festivities in the video below!

We’d love to hear how YOU celebrated Earth Day this year!

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Here’s the Scoop: EcoCAR 2010 Finals Program Now Available!

April 29, 2010 in EcoCAR News by ggguest | 1 comment

The EcoCAR 2010 Competition Finals are so close we can taste it! In just a few short weeks, on May 17, the 16 teams will gather in Yuma, Arizona to kick off the event.

We are excited to announce that the Finals Program is now available online!

Click on the link above for detailed information regarding the competition schedule, events and awards, and judging information.

This year, some of the top minds in the engineering, automotive, and environmental science industries will be on the judging panel in Yuma and San Diego. Take a look at the program for the full list and bios of each judge. There will also be a handful of awards to win and it’s not just bragging rights and trophies at stake. Teams who take top honors win cash prizes, so the teams better be on top of their game!

To give the EcoCAR teams a proper welcome to San Diego, they will be taking a sunset cruise! No tour buses here, the students will ride in style on the Lord Hornblower.

 

Lord Hornblower

The Lord Hornblower has it all: Three spacious, climate-controlled salons. A comfy captain’s lounge that looks out onto sparkling waves. An expansive open-air sun deck offering sweeping panoramic vistas. Three full-service bars, two dance floors and seating for up to 500 guests.

We’re excited to see the teams and their EcoCARs in just a few weeks – in the desert!

 

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The Vehicle of the Future Video!

April 28, 2010 in Team Posts, Video Blogs by ggguest | No comments

Do you remember this amazing commercial from the SuperBowl? The Penn State Advanced Vehicle Team has made their own Google SearchStory about their EcoCAR! The “Vehicle of the Future” video is just one way the team is speading awareness of the EcoCAR program and the importance of sustainable vehicles.

Take a look at the fun video below!

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What is an EREV?

April 28, 2010 in Team Posts, Video Blogs by ggguest | No comments

In the video below,  the Mississippi State EcoCAR team answers the question, “What is an Extended Range Electric Vehicle (EREV)?”

Team leader, Matthew Doude, shows off the team’s vehicle and explains how the EREV is powered and what happens when the battery power is depleted.

Mike Wahlstrom from Argonne National Laboratory also makes an appearance and describes how the fuel economy of each EcoCAR vehicle is calculated.

Check out the video below!

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hRfby30YND4]

Do you agree with the Mississippi State team that EREV technology will be a reality?

Follow along with us during the EcoCAR Year Two Finals, May 17-27, 2010, to see how MSU’s EREV stands up against the other competing teams!

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MSU EcoCAR Engineers Team Up with Marketing Management Seniors

April 27, 2010 in Team Posts by ggguest | No comments

While most EcoCAR students are focused on engineering and looking to learn more about the automobile industry, the EcoCAR competition also offers plenty of room for non-engineers to gain valuable experience.

This semester, the Mississippi State EcoCAR teamed up with a senior level marketing management class on campus. MSU team leader, Matthew Doude, and advisor, Marshall Molen, spoke to the class about the EcoCAR competition, hybrids in general, and explained what the team has been working on in Year Two. The students were very enthusiastic and asked questions about safety, strategy, and what they could do to help the team.

After visiting the class, the marketing management students came up with ways they can contribute to the team’s efforts that are relevant to their interests and fields of study.

“I enjoyed learning about the EcoCAR team’s hybrid car and how green vehicle technology is valuable to today’s society,” said senior marketing student, Haley Sellers. ”I also learned  how to use different marketing skills to target and educate the public about why green is the future of transportation.”

The marketing management students have shared innovative ideas with the MSU EcoCAR team and the additional man-power has been really helpful. It was a pleasure watching the two groups of students learn from each other through the process!

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OSU Takes its EcoCAR to the Streets!

April 27, 2010 in Team Posts by ggguest | 3 comments

Last week was a big week for the Ohio State University EcoCAR team. The team unveiled its new website—feel free to share your feedback—and took its EcoCAR out for a drive fueled by a newly installed battery pack.

The OSU engineering team has been hard at work getting the car ready to drive. One of the major accomplishments was getting the battery pack installed, which sits in the trunk of the car. OSU’s EcoCAR fuels the rear powertrain off the battery pack, so getting it completely situated was a big event.

OSU's EcoCAR team pushes the car out of the garage for its first drive fueled by the battery pack

The process of driving the EcoCAR started with hoisting it off the ground to make sure that everything would work correctly when it was outside of the garage. After success in the air, it was time for the team to roll the car out of the garage and into the afternoon sunshine.

The team fired up the engine and drove the car in both forward and reverse around the garage.

So far so good! Check out the post on OSU’s EcoCAR website to watch a video of the car in action.

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Mentor Monday: From the GM Sunrayce Competition to GM’s Proving Grounds

April 26, 2010 in EcoCAR News by ggguest | No comments

This week’s Mentor Monday post features Keith Van Houten, a noise and vibration specialist at the GM Proving Grounds. As a mechanical engineering student at Virginia Tech, Keith participated in the GM Sunrayce competition and is thrilled to return to his alma mater to mentor the Virginia Tech EcoCAR team. 

With more than 20 years of experience in student engineering competitions, Keith assists his team in properly balancing the EcoCAR’s architecture. While new and complex designs provide opportunities for performance edge, Keith teaches his team that their implementation must be well balanced with the inclusion of proven technology – the type of technology they can execute with a high degree of reliability. So far, his team has struck a good balance with this year’s VT E85 split parallel hybrid architecture.

Both Keith and Virginia Tech have been involved in Advanced Technology Vehicle Competitions for quite some time, so their experiences have helped the team keep the project on track. As expected, the team’s recent inspection proved that the students are on schedule. While Keith assists the students, they teach him the details of evolving battery and hybrid technology – something he hasn’t had the opportunity to do in his current work assignment.

GM mentor, Keith Van Houten (right) talks to Virginia Tech engineering students, Lynn Gantt and Patrick Walsh, about design options for the high voltage belted alternator starter system

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EcoEagles at the Daytona 500

April 23, 2010 in Team Posts by ggguest | 1 comment

During Speedweeks 2010 at the Daytona International Speedway, the Embry-Riddle EcoCAR team worked with its local sponsor, the International Speedway Corporation, to set up a trade show display inside the Daytona 500 Experience. At Speedweeks 2010, the EcoEagles were able to discuss the EcoCAR competition and Embry-Riddle’s participation with thousands of race fans. Embry-Riddle’s contact at the International Speedway Corporation, Cliff Franz, arranged for the team to showcase its work right outside the entrance of the Daytona 500 Experience.

EcoEagles’ co-team leader, Ryle Maxson, talking to race fans

The team set up its display while two Gatorade Duels at Daytona were running. In between races, many fans stopped by the Daytona 500 Experience to talk to the EcoEagles. The students spoke to fans from more than 15 different countries and all were genuinely interested and impressed with the EcoCAR project and its goals. 

The Embry-Riddle EcoCAR team was included in all the SpeedWeeks 2010 events and the team gained a lot of exposure. During the 2010 Daytona 500 induction ceremony, the winning car was parked inside the Daytona 500 Experience to commemorate the victory – right next to the EcoEagles’ trade show display! 

By the end of the event, the EcoEagles had talked to thousands of fans, handed out hundreds of team and competition informational brochures, and had a lot of fun! The team can’t wait until the next big event rolls into Daytona, so they can do it again.

A view of the EcoEagles’ display in the Daytona 500 Experience

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Happy Earth Day from the Mississippi State EcoCAR Team!

April 22, 2010 in Team Posts by ggguest | No comments

Like many of the EcoCAR teams, Mississippi State has been celebrating Earth Day all week! 

Yesterday, the team participated in an Earth Day bike tour on campus. Kicking off the ride, MSU team members gave a short presentation on the importance of hybrid technology and the work being done to their vehicle. The team’s EcoCAR then served as a safety vehicle, riding alongside the bikers. 

Today, team leader, Matthew Doude, is traveling to Forrest, Mississippi to participate in Raytheon Company’s Earth Day Education Fair. While Matthew is spending the day in Forrest, the rest of the team will be on campus for the MSU Earth Day Fair. At the event, several “green-minded” groups will set up booths to educate students and faculty on how to help make the world a greener place. To finish out the day, the MSU team will head to a local elementary school to educate the youth on the advantages of hybrids and going green.

The MSU team is excited about celebrating the 40th Earth Day and encourages you to do your part to help our environment!

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