EcoCAR

EcoCAR: The NeXt Challenge is a three-year competition that builds on the 19-year history of U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) advanced vehicle technology competitions by giving engineering students the chance to design and build advanced vehicles that demonstrate leading-edge automotive technologies, with the goal of minimizing the environmental impact of personal transportation and illustrating pathways to a sustainable transportation future. The DOE has again joined General Motors (GM), the Government of Canada (Transport Canada, Natural Resources Canada), and other sponsors for this new competition series, named the EcoCAR Challenge. Argonne National Laboratory, a DOE research and development facility, will organize and operate the EcoCAR Challenge. Some previous types of advanced vehicle technology competitions include FutureTruck, FutureCar, and Challenge X. These type of competitions are usually supported by one or more of the Big Three American Automobile Manufacturers. [1]

An international university competition which challenges teams to lead in the development of advanced automotive technologies

Background on EcoCAR

The DOE announced a Notice of Program Interest for North American colleges and universities with accredited engineering programs to compete for the opportunity to participate in EcoCAR: The NeXt Challenge—a new international collegiate vehicle engineering competition—through a request-for-proposal (RFP) process in 2008.

EcoCAR seeks to advance the level of vehicle technology capable of reducing petroleum consumption and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions while demonstrating the real-world performance of a range of technology options. Schools interested in receiving an RFP describing in detail the requirements for competing for one of the up to 17 available slots in EcoCAR were invited to express their interest.

Technology Development

The technologies explored in EcoCAR are identical to those being investigated by the automotive industry to meet the demands of improved energy efficiency and dramatic reductions in Greenhouse gas (GHG)s, as well as to address California zero-emissions vehicle (ZEV) regulations. These technologies include full-function electric, hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and fuel cell hybrid vehicles. The only fuels approved for use in EcoCAR are E10 ethanol, E85 ethanol, B20 biodiesel, compressed gaseous hydrogen, and the energy carrier electricity.

Teams selected will design and integrate advanced-technology powertrains, lightweight materials, and aerodynamic improvements into a production vehicle. Using this approach, EcoCAR will explore pathways for future vehicles while giving the student participants the knowledge and experience they need to rapidly develop critical engineering skills and become the next generation of leaders in the automotive industry.

EcoCAR is based on a real-world integrated vehicle design and development process. Teams of engineers from the selected schools will develop their vehicles following a modified GM Global Vehicle Development Process (GVDP) for each phase of the three-year competition. By the end of the competition, the sponsors expect fully developed vehicles equivalent to prototypes ready for a production decision. While applying proven methods for engineering successful prototype vehicles, students will learn real-world engineering skills that will make them highly effective in the automotive industry. At the conclusion of each of EcoCAR’s three years, a week-long competition involving all of the participating schools will take place at a GM vehicle proving ground or other appropriate location in North America.

Participation
Virginia Tech's Team Leader, Adam Robinson, accepting GM's Seed Money

Teams will receive $10,000 in seed money in Year One, a wide range of powertrain components, a vehicle donated by GM, and technical and mentoring support from the competition sponsors. EcoCAR teams will also have a GM mentor knowledgeable in technologies relevant to the team assigned to assist them during the competition. Substantial funds will also be provided to each university to support a full-time graduate student who will provide the team with leadership and continuity over the three-year program.

Schools will be required to match cash seed money donations from EcoCAR sponsors and to provide class credit for students participating in the competition, release time equal to at least one class per semester for a faculty advisor from the engineering school, and logistical and promotional support for their team. Teams may also be asked to match seed money each year to support a full-time, graduate-level engineering team leader. A signed letter of support will be required from the Dean of the Engineering Department with each proposal. If accepted into EcoCAR, each school will be required to sign an annual Good Faith Agreement reaffirming the school's full support of their team and explicitly stating its willingness to participate in all EcoCAR activities with at least one faculty advisor in attendance.

Outreach
Virginia Tech team members Mark Meyer, left, and Graham Burkholder, right, show how their hybrid controller works to interested middle school students.

As part of the competition, EcoCAR teams are required to participate in different types of outreach events. These events include things such as press releases, community outreach, K-12 education, etc. Each team is asked to reach out to their communities and get them interested in EcoCAR.

Results

In Year One (2009), teams use modeling and simulation to develop their vehicle architecture. In Year Two (2010), designs are turned into functioning prototype vehicles. In Year Three (2011), Vehicles are refined to “Near Showroom Quality”.[2][3] Year Three was the final year of the EcoCAR: The NeXt Challenge competition, succeeded by EcoCAR 2, and EcoCAR 3[4]

  • Year One Results[5]
    Place Team
    1st Ohio State University
    2nd University of Victoria
    3rd Mississippi State University
  • Year Two Results[6]
    Place Team
    1st Mississippi State University
    2nd Virginia Tech
    3rd Penn State
  • Year Three Results[7]
    Place Team
    1st Virginia Tech
    2nd Ohio State University
    3rd University of Waterloo

Sponsors

Headline

Diamond

Platinum

Gold

Silver

Bronze

Universities Competing in EcoCAR: The NeXt Challenge

17 universities competed in the three-year span competition EcoCAR: The NeXt Challenge.[8][9][note 1]

Notes
  1. Howard University only competed between 2008-2009.
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References
  1. "EcoCAR: The NeXt Challenge". www.ecocar2.org. Retrieved 2016-06-01.
  2. "EcoCAR Challenge_Media". www.ecocar2.org. Archived from the original on 2016-08-04. Retrieved 2016-06-01.CS1 maint: unfit url (link)
  3. "Y1 Program.pdf" (PDF). Y1 Program.pdf. p. 5. Archived from the original on 2016-08-04. Retrieved 2016-05-31.CS1 maint: unfit url (link)
  4. "AVTC I Advanced Vehicle Technology Competitions". AVTC I Advanced Vehicle Technology Competitions. Archived from the original on 2016-06-16. Retrieved 2016-06-01.
  5. "2009_year1_finals.pdf" (PDF). 2009_year1_finals.pdf. Archived from the original on 2017-01-17. Retrieved 2016-06-01.CS1 maint: unfit url (link)
  6. "ecocar_yr_two_finals.pdf" (PDF). ecocar_yr_two_finals.pdf. Archived from the original on 2017-01-17. Retrieved 2016-06-01.CS1 maint: unfit url (link)
  7. "EcoCAR_Finals_Release_FINAL.pdf" (PDF). EcoCAR_Finals_Release_FINAL.pdf. Archived from the original on 2017-01-17. Retrieved 2016-05-31.CS1 maint: unfit url (link)
  8. "EcoCAR The Next Challenge - Universities Involved". Advanced Vehicle Technology Competitions. Archived from the original on 10 September 2018. Retrieved 24 May 2020.
  9. "EcoCar Fact Sheet" (PDF). EcoCar Challenge. Archived from the original on 27 February 2017. Retrieved 24 May 2020.CS1 maint: unfit url (link)
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