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updated December 2, 2009
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EcoCAR among Cutting-Edge Projects that Will Educate Future
Engineers to Meet Energy Challenges through New Technologies
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Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology students and faculty are exploring
cutting-edge technology in their exploration of vehicle solutions that will
reduce energy consumption and decrease emissions through an Advance
Transportation Systems initiative that’s being endorsed and supported by
industry and government entities.
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Industry Partner: Mike Rowand, Duke Energy’s director of
advanced customer technology, talks about the importance of projects
like Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology's EcoCAR project in
providing engineers to meet Americas' future energy needs. Duke
Energy has committed $25,000 per year for three years to the vehicle
development project. |
The Advanced Transportation Systems (ATS) program is striving to inspire the
next generation of engineers and scientists by giving them the tools and
experience necessary to help America secure a more energy-efficient future.
Students will learn modern automotive, aerospace and off-highway design
methodologies and technologies through Model-Based System Design, the modern
design practice in the aerospace and automotive industries, and
participating in national engineering design challenges in promoting
sustainable energy resources.
Rose-Hulman is the only Indiana college or university whose students have
been selected to participate in EcoCAR: The Next Challenge, a national
engineering design competition to re-engineer identical production GM
vehicles to achieve improved fuel economy and reduced greenhouse gas
emissions, while retaining the vehicle’s performance and consumer appeal.
Other ATS design projects include the Rose-Hulman Human Powered Vehicle,
two-time national champions in the American Society of Mechanical Engineers’
HPV competitions; the Rose Efficient Vehicle, which has earned technical and
performance honors at Shell Eco-marathon competitions in American and
Europe, and Society of Automotive Engineers’ Supermilage competition; the
Institute of Aeronautics and Aeronautics’ Design-Build-Fly team, and the
Team Rose Motorsports.
“EcoCar and the other teams in our Advanced Transportation Systems
initiative further demonstrate Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology’s
commitment to innovation in technology and education,” said Rose-Hulman
President Matt Branam. “Rose-Hulman has a long history of innovation and is
pleased to be helping Indiana lead the charge in advanced transportation
research and education.”
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Behind The Wheel: EcoCAR Team Leader Cameron Hazel, a senior
mechanical engineering major, discusses aspects of Rose-Hulman
Institute of Technology's EcoCAR project with Art McGrew,
engineering manager for General Motors' hybrid power train unit in
Indianapolis. McGrew, a 1981 Rose-Hulman alumnus, is serving as the
team's GM technical mentor. |
“The Advanced Transportation Systems initiative helps provide our students
with a cutting-edge education and provides business and industry with
graduates able to make significant contributions early in their careers,”
Branam said. “Rose-Hulman is pleased to be a strategic partner with the
state of Indiana in making sure that the state will sustain its leadership
position in developing the transportation alternatives of tomorrow. We
appreciate the faith our various governmental and industrial partners have
in this program.”
The Mechanical Engineering and Electrical and Computer Engineering
departments have been awarded almost $3 million in financial, equipment and
technical assistance donations from General Motors Corporation, The
MathWorks, Freescale Semiconductor, Siemens, the U.S. Department of Energy’s
Argonne National Laboratory, National Instruments, American Society of
Engineering Education, Snap On Tools, Vector CANtech and Woodward/MotoTron.
Indianapolis-based advanced lithium-ion battery maker EnerDel Inc. is
providing an innovative, high-performance battery system for the team’s
hybrid vehicle applications.
Duke Energy Foundation, ON Semiconductor, Delphi, Alcoa Foundation and
ArcelorMittal have provided over $185,000 in financial donations to
encourage project development.
"EnerDel is excited about the opportunity to support Rose-Hulman and this
talented group of engineering students on the EcoCAR project," said EnerDel
President Rick Stanley, a 1978 Rose-Hulman mechanical engineering graduate.
"Rose-Hulman is known for producing graduates that are ready to hit the
ground running as productive engineers. There is a growing global focus on
reducing dependence on oil and reducing emissions. The Advanced
Transportation Systems program and projects like EcoCAR provide incredibly
relevant experience for Rose-Hulman students. As a Rose-Hulman alumnus, I’m
pleased to support initiatives that enable the college to continue to
produce future leaders."
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Energizing Project: EnerDel Inc. President Rick Stanley
discusses reasons why the Indianapolis-based advanced lithium-ion
battery maker is providing an innovative, high-performance battery
system for Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology's EcoCAR hybrid
vehicle applications. |
Mike Rowand, Duke Energy’s director of Advanced Customer Technology, added:
“Duke Energy is very pleased to support this effort with our commitment of
$25,000 per year for three years. It’s important for a company such as Duke
Energy to become involved in projects such as EcoCAR, which help move our
society closer to realizing the many benefits of electric transportation;
including reduced emissions, energy security, and lower operating costs.”
Rose-Hulman students participating in EcoCAR: The Next Challenge have spent
the past year designing and are now beginning to build an hybrid-electric
vehicle that is based on the vehicle categories from the California Air
Resources Board (CARB) zero emissions vehicle (ZEV) regulations. The vehicle
will feature a diesel engine using B-20 diesel fuel, and two electric motors
arranged in a parallel pre-post transmission architecture.
“EcoCAR is real-world engineering and this experience gives us the
opportunity for hands-on learning and valuable skills preparing us for
careers as the next generation of engineers to develop clean vehicle
solutions,” said Rose-Hulman Team Co-Faculty Adviser Zac Chambers, associate
professor of mechanical engineering. “We are excited our team was selected
to participate in EcoCAR.”
Rose-Hulman received its vehicle in November and students have begun
rebuilding the vehicle and will continue to refine, test and improve vehicle
operations throughout the next two years. The vehicle will be put through an
extensive system of performance tests and judged against the other team
vehicles at the end of each year of the project.
Joining Rose-Hulman in EcoCAR: The Next Challenge are Embry-Riddle
Aeronautical University; Georgia Tech; Howard University; Michigan
Technological University; Mississippi State University; Missouri University
of Science and Technology; North Carolina State University; Ohio State
University; Pennsylvania State University; Texas Tech University; University
of Ontario Institute of Technology; University of Victoria; University of
Waterloo; University of Wisconsin; Virginia Tech; West Virginia University.
About EcoCAR
EcoCAR is a three-year competition that builds on the 20-year history of
U.S. Department of Energy advanced vehicle technology competitions, by
giving engineering students the chance to design and build advanced vehicles
that demonstrate leading-edge automotive technologies. GM provides vehicles,
vehicle components, seed money, technical mentoring and operational support.
DOE and its research and development facility, Argonne National Laboratory,
provide competition management, team evaluation, technical and logistical
support. Additional information about the EcoCAR competition and photos are
available on the Web at:
http://www.ecocarchallenge.org;
http://www.green-garage.org;
http://archive.ecocarphoto.com/c/ecocarphoto
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