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Penn State Students Become EcoSTARS

January 3, 2012 in EcoCAR 2 News, Team Posts by ggguestuser | No comments

Penn State’s EcoCAR engineers spent countless hours diligently building models and finalizing architecture details in advance of the winter break. Over the course of the semester they modeled and simulated three potential architectures and recently received approval for their final vehicle architecture that will be revealed in February. Do you want to meet this team of engineers making strides in advanced vehicle technologies? Don’t worry, the Penn State EcoCAR 2 team will proudly introduce themselves!

Each week a different Penn State EcoCAR 2 team member is highlighted in a video series called “Penn State EcoSTARS.” In short video clips, students explain who they are, the progress they have made with the team and what they enjoy about being a part of a group of engineers working toward innovative vehicle technology goals. The videos are a perfect way to introduce team members and give them the recognition they deserve as they prepare to compete in the Year One Finals.

Check out the EcoSTARS video below on Penn State’s outreach coordinator, Allison Lilly:

To view more of Penn State’s fall semester EcoSTARS, please visit the team’s YouTube page . Stay tuned to see outstanding Penn State EcoSTARS each week throughout the spring, too!

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Where Are They Now Wednesdays: Jamie Clark

October 26, 2011 in EcoCAR 2 News by ggguestuser | No comments

Jamie Clark wasn’t always interested in the automotive industry, but his participation in Challenge X during his senior year at Penn State University sparked his curiosity and ultimately led to his job today.

“I had a desire to work on something that would make the world a more efficient or cleaner place,” said Clark, who currently works at Johnson Controls Automotive as a system engineer.

His main role on the Penn State Advanced Vehicle Team was to work in the battery group, where, among other responsibilities, Clark had to package the battery system, determine where it would fit in the vehicle and devise a way to keep it cool.

He believes his experience in Challenge X contributed to his first job at Tesla Motors working as a mechanical engineer.

“There was definitely a lot of company contact during Challenge X, not only with General Motors, but also with the other companies that helped support the competition,” Clark said.

He always had a desire to work abroad and his dreams became realized when he moved to Germany for his current position at Johnson Controls Automotive. While he didn’t speak German at the time, batteries are a more specialized area of the automotive industry, and his expertise made him more marketable to German employers.

Today, he primarily works on battery modeling to determine how the battery interacts with the all aspects of a vehicle’s software and hardware during design validation testing.

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My First Year as an EcoCAR Organizer

July 29, 2011 in EcoCAR News, Sponsor Post by ggguestuser | No comments

With one year as an EcoCAR organizer under her belt, we sat down with Argonne‘s Dana Bubonovich to learn more about her transition from student to organizer.

Q: How did you get involved with EcoCAR as a student?

A: I joined about half-way through Year One of EcoCAR. One of my friends was on the Penn State EcoCAR team let me know they were looking for public relations and business students to join the program. Since I was a PR major and involved in the Public Relations Student Society of America, I agreed to help out, and recruited a few other students to join the Outreach team. The Penn State faculty advisor, Gary Neal, asked if I would come back for Year Two as the outreach coordinator/undergraduate research assistant – and the rest is history!

Q: What does your position at Argonne entail?

A: My official title is Communications and Logistics Coordinator for Advanced Vehicle Technology Competitions. I assist in the behind-the-scenes logistics for the competition; everything from venue selection to signage. I also sit in on the outreach committee meetings and help develop all of the EcoCAR outreach deliverables. In addition to EcoCAR, I help coordinate the Clean Cities University Workforce Development Program, which consists of about 25 different Coalitions every academic semester.

Q: How did being an Outreach Coordinator prepare you for your position with Argonne?

A: Being involved in the program prior to joining Argonne’s team allowed me to learn about the program, how it is run, and the philosophy behind Advanced Vehicle Technology Competitions. I was able to give insight into the outreach side of the program from a student perspective, which strengthened the outreach program. Although I don’t have an engineering degree, I learned about the various vehicle architectures and technical details of the program as a student, which helps me today.

Q: How was your first year as a competition organizer?

A: It was definitely an experience. As a student, I never realized how much the organizers do for the competition, especially from the logistics side. Like every job, you make some mistakes and you learn from them. I feel better prepared now that I have a year as an organizer under my belt.

Q: What was the most difficult part transitioning from student to organizer?

A: Just that – transitioning from a student to an organizer. As an organizer, you are in charge of the competition as a whole. You no longer have to manage one university team, but 16 of them.  You have to be very good at time management and multi-tasking. The position is very stressful at times, but I truly enjoy what I do.

Thanks for taking the time to chat with us, Dana! Best of luck in in your second year as an organizer and Year One of EcoCAR: Plugging in to the Future!

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Penn State EcoCAR Designs Own App

May 20, 2011 in EcoCAR News, Team Posts by ggguestuser | No comments

With the smart phone craze spreading rapidly across the world, Penn State EcoCAR wanted to get in on the action, so the outreach team spent the Spring Semester working to create Penn State EcoCAR’s very own iPod and iPod Touch Application.

The free app can be found on iTunes and other app stores by typing in “PSU EcoCAR.” It includes feeds to all of the team’s social media streams including Facebook, Twitter, Foursquare and YouTube. Users can view the team’s videos and pictures directly on the app, as well as leaving comments.

The Penn State EcoCAR team debuted the app at a campus Earth Day event, and it has been downloaded 257 times so far. The team was especially proud that State College’s Mayor Elizabeth Goreham and District Representative Rick Sollman downloaded the app when they visited the Penn State EcoCAR garage!

The app is a great way for the team to keep up with the ever-changing world of technology and spread EcoCAR goals and missions to a wider range of people. As Year Three comes to a close, the Penn State team will be sure to keep the app updated on the competition’s progress. Download Penn State EcoCAR’s App today!

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All 3 Levels of Government Talk Tech with PSU

May 16, 2011 in EcoCAR News, Team Posts by ggguestuser | No comments

The Penn State EcoCAR team has recently had the honor of discussing advanced vehicle technologies with officials from all levels of government.

At the local level, Mayor Elizabeth Goreham read Penn State EcoCAR’s Energy Month proclamation at the State College Borough Council Meeting. She encouraged residents to participate in Energy Month events and to make wiser energy decisions. The team also visited the local Council of Governments meeting where officials from all across the central part of Pennsylvania were excited to learn about EcoCAR.

At the state level, Representative Scott Conklin toured the garage and showed his support for the EcoCAR competition. As a car enthusiast, Conklin was interested in the team’s architecture, and he wanted to learn as much as possible. The engineering students were delighted to give him detailed descriptions and specifications about the EcoCAR.

At the federal level, Congressman Glenn ‘GT’ Thompson viewed the vehicle and discussed the future of the automotive industry with EcoCAR engineers and outreach members.  He was enthusiastic about the project and was particularly interested in the safety aspects of the vehicle. As a Penn State graduate, Thompson was impressed with the team and wished them luck before Year Three Finals.

Check out the video below to see how the meetings went!

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Penn State at the Pittsburgh Auto Show

April 15, 2011 in Team Posts by ggguest | No comments

Thousands of car enthusiasts braved the blustery winter wind earlier this year to visit the Pittsburgh International Auto Show, an event that truly had something for everyone. Some hunted for the KidsZone to get their children intricate balloon animals and some searched for the best French fries, but others made their way to the Green Street area to learn more about ‘greener’ automotive options.

At the end of the long, green carpet in the midst of the latest hybrids, electric and alternative fuel vehicles, stood the Penn State EcoCAR team’s Green Street exhibit. Several engineers and outreach members spent the weekend explaining new technologies, answering questions and describing the EcoCAR competition.

Penn State team members were surprised by how much support they received, even in University of Pittsburgh territory! Many people who visited the exhibit were blown away that college students were capable of designing and implementing such complicated advanced vehicle technologies.

The Penn State team with their vehicle in Yuma, AZ

It was a rewarding experience for students to talk with visitors about Penn State’s vehicle architecture and its similarity with the Chevrolet Volt. With all the recent hype about the Volt, many people were already familiar with the type of extended-range electric vehicle that Penn State has. Countless individuals praised the car’s electric motor with a small backup biodiesel engine, and many predicted that the entire automotive industry will move in this direction soon.

Whether vehicles like Penn State’s EcoCAR will dominate the industry or not, it was encouraging to see the number of people interested in more environmentally friendly transportation. Throughout the weekend, people told the team their stories and explained why they’re making the decision to drive ‘green.’ If the Pittsburgh Auto Show is any indication, American drivers are ready for the vehicles in the EcoCAR competition to move from Green Street to every street!

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Outreach Program in Full Swing at Penn State

March 25, 2011 in Team Posts, Video Blogs by ggguest | No comments

With the EcoCAR Final Competition just a few short months away, there is no shortage of work to be done. While the engineers were busy making final preparations for emissions testing at the Environmental Protection Agency’s National Vehicle and Fuel Emissions Laboratory, the Penn State outreach team has its own goals to accomplish.

Under the leadership of Penn State’s outreach coordinator, Allison Lilly, outreach team members are constantly brainstorming, planning and implementing events to promote advanced vehicle technologies. Each week there are events on campus, at local schools and in the community that present the opportunity to talk with people ranging from young children to state and federal officials.

Members have also heavily utilized social media and the team website as tools for two-way communication with community leaders and the general public. In addition to that feedback, the outreach team performed market research, which provides invaluable insights into consumers’ views of the automotive industry “going green.”

The Penn State outreach team will push themselves to finish strong during the remaining weeks of the competition. Even though there’s a shortage of time, there’s no shortage of opportunities—at least not for the dedicated members of Penn State EcoCAR.

Check out the video below to see local middle schoolers enjoying a visit from the team!

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Penn State EcoCAR Attends President Barack Obama’s Speech

March 10, 2011 in Green Auto News, Team Posts by ggguest | No comments

The President of the United States visited Penn State last month and spoke to a crowd of 3,000 people on the topic of innovation in energy-efficient engineering. Secretary of Energy Steven Chu was also in attendance. In addition to his 20-minute speech, President Obama toured an Architectural Engineering Structures Laboratory with Secretary Chu.

Twenty-five Penn State EcoCAR team members, including engineers, volunteers, faculty advisors and outreach members, attended the President’s speech, and the Penn State Outreach Coordinator, Allison Lilly, had the privilege of shaking his hand!

The Team at President Obama's speech

The President’s speech focused on inspiring Penn State students to meet their potential. He emphasized the need for collegiate competition, saying, “We’re going to have to out-innovate and out-educate and out-build the rest of the world.”

The Penn State EcoCAR team is very familiar with competition and innovation, so President Obama’s speech really resonated. The President focused on clean energy, “because right now, some of the most promising innovation is happening in the area of clean energy technology — technology that is creating jobs, reducing our dependence on foreign oil, and — something that every young person here cares about — making sure our planet is a healthier place to live that we can pass on to future generations.”

Obama called upon college students to try harder, work harder, and research harder – not for the grades, but for the good of our country’s future. “We need you to seek breakthroughs and new technologies that we can’t even imagine yet,” he said.  “And especially the young people who are here, we need you to act with a sense of urgency — to study and work and create as if the fate of the country depends on you – because it does.”

President Obama ended the speech with a message of hope, saying that he believes we will be able to once again set ourselves apart from the rest of the world by harnessing the energy of Penn State students and students across the nation.

The EcoCAR team left the room a little more excited to get back to work, to face their next challenge, and to set themselves apart in this outstanding engineering competition.

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Penn State EcoCAR Alumni Thrive in the “Real” World

March 3, 2011 in Team Posts by ggguest | No comments

Entering the “real world” after four or more years at a college or university can be quite daunting.  Many college seniors share similar thoughts: “Will I find a job that’s right for me?”; “Will I get along with my co-workers?”; “Will I be successful?”

The success that all college seniors try to attain does not come without hard work and dedication to job-related activities during the college years.  Although EcoCAR is a fun and competitive way for engineers to foster their interests, it is also a great “real world” experience that can ultimately lead to excellent career opportunities.

Former Penn State EcoCAR team members Bryan Chambers and Tushar Swamy currently work for A123 Systems, one of the core sponsors of batteries and technical support for the EcoCAR Challenge.  Chambers is presently a mechanical engineer for the company, helping to diagnose problems and improve the design of battery packs for hybrid buses.  Although his role in the drivetrain group did not tie in directly with battery pack work in EcoCAR, Bryan gained other knowledge from taking part in the competition.

“I learned how to work with a large team, how to adapt to sudden changes and how to solve problems that don’t have an answer in the back of the book,” Chambers said.

Tushar Swamy and Bryan Chambers, currently employed by A123 Systems

Tushar Swamy and Bryan Chambers, currently employed by A123 Systems

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Team Spotlight Video: Penn State University

February 17, 2011 in Team Posts, Video Blogs by ggguest | No comments

This week’s Team Spotlight Video highlights the Penn State EcoCAR team!

Take a look at the video below to see how designing their EcoCAR vehicle has prepared Penn State team members for careers in automotive engineering.

Exposure to General Motors’ (GM) vehicle development process, as well as hands-on experience in vehicle design and integration, has given these students unparalleled training in their field. According to GM mentor Paul Shoytush, “If you want to work in the automotive industry, this is the best way to gain experience and to show the automotive industry what you can do.”

The Penn State vehicle, which uses a series architecture that incorporates B20 fuel into a diesel engine, took home 3rd place at the EcoCAR Year Two Finals, and we can’t wait to see how the team does in Year Three!

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