As if the Federal Government doesn’t already have enough to do these days, the Department of Energy, in the form of its Advanced Vehicle Technologies Competition (ACTV) EcoCar3 Challenge is now teasing engineering students with the premise of turning a fire-breathing Camaro ICE into an equally impressive next-gen hybrid electric vehicle.
According to press materials associated with the technologies project the goal is to “…reduce environmental impact, while maintaining the muscle and performance expected from this iconic American car.”
Overall, the concept is quite interesting; although the competition does offer a series of specific hurdles to jump through in order to qualify for ultimate consideration.
These include:
- Reduced energy consumption;
- Reduced well-to-wheel GHG emissions;
- Reduced emissions;
- Consumer acceptance in the case of performance, utility, and safety;
- Satisfaction of the Department’s energy and environmental goals, while maintaining reasonable cost and innovation.
The Challenge schedule will run across four years beginning in Q4 of 2014 to 2018, and the Camaro in question must be based on the stock body configuration. Currently the Chevy variant is considered to be one of the most technologically advanced vehicles in world considering its all-electronic engine and on-board systems management integration.
Since the ATVC program is oriented to the education of engineering students a host of top-flight U.S. schools are involved in the new transportation challenge including;
- 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
If you’re interested in the EcoCar3 Challenge you can learn more at EcoCar3.
