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Students to Compete in Alternative Vehicle Competition

WVU EcoAR team members will work on a Saturn Vue crossover sport utility vehicle like the one seen here, with the goal of increasing fuel efficiency and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. WVU's proposal was ranked fourth in the nation in the new competition.

With gas prices remaining high and vehicle emissions a pressing concern, the need for fuel-efficient and environmentally friendly vehicles is critical. WVU engineering students are doing their part to help design cars of the future as they gear up for the next big collegiate competition in alternative vehicle design.

EcoCAR: The NeXt Challenge is a national three-year collegiate competition sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy, Argon National Labs and General Motors. Its purpose is to give students hands-on experience designing vehicles to be more fuel-efficient, with reduced greenhouse gas emissions, while maintaining performance and reliability.

This past spring, the competition's judges accepted proposals from universities around the nation. Of the 65 proposals received, WVU's was among only 17 universities selected to participate, and the WVU proposal was ranked fourth in the nation, said Scott Wayne, professor of mechanical engineering and the team advisor.

WVU has a long history of doing well in national alternative vehicle competitions, said Wayne, including placing in the top ten for three years running in the Department of Energy's previous competition, Challenge X, which ended this year.

"Competitions like Challenge X and EcoCAR provide unique opportunities for our students to get involved in a complex, hands-on project and to gain valuable experience outside of the classroom," said Wayne. "They also allow students to make valuable industry contacts. Several of our graduates who were involved in these competitions have gone on to excellent positions with GM and other manufacturers."

WVU's EcoCAR team is composed mainly of mechanical and aerospace engineering majors, along with students from computer science and electrical engineering. Over the next three years, the team will convert a stock 2009 Saturn Vue crossover sport utility vehicle into an advanced-technology hybrid vehicle that is more economical to operate and more environmentally friendly.

In the first year of the competition, students will explore different design options with the use of special software. In the second year, the team will receive a vehicle from GM and begin integrating new parts, testing emissions and fuel-efficiency, and making structural changes. The third and final year will be devoted to making additional improvements, working on appeal and marketability, and getting the vehicle ready for production.

Each year, EcoCAR officials will judge the team on its progress and how well it has met its goals for that year.

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For information on any news item from the WVU College of Engineering and Mineral Resources, contact the College Relations Department at 304-293-4821 ext. 2213 or email engineeringwv@mail.wvu.edu.

09/03/2008