TRC hosts EcoCAR teams for emissions testing

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For the past two weeks Ohio State’s EcoCAR 3 team, as well as 15 other EcoCAR 3 student competition teams from around North America participated in the Emissions Testing Event at Transportation Research Center (TRC Inc.).

As an EcoCAR 3 sponsor, TRC Inc. provided the teams with Emissions Laboratory facilities, equipment and staff to measure the amount of emissions being released from their vehicle and completed several other tests that will help them to refine the Hybrid Electric Powertrains they developed and installed in their competition vehicle, a 2016 Chevy Camaro.

“Several of these students will be hired by the sponsor organizations including: US Department of Energy, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, California Air Resources Board, General Motors, etc,” said TRC Inc. project engineer, Ken Webster. “The benefit to TRC Inc. is that some of these students will become future customers working on advance vehicle powertrain systems. Other students will direct potential customers to TRC Inc. based on this experience.”

TRC Inc. has hosted this event twice, the last time being three years ago for the EcoCAR 2 teams who were working on a Chevy Malibu. They plan to host again in another three years.

“Having the opportunity to work with TRC Inc. at the Emissions Testing Event was a great opportunity for our team to collect important data that we are unable to collect on campus,” said Ohio State EcoCAR 3 team leader, Brandon Bishop. “In our case, we were able to condense several weeks of testing into a three day block where we performed thermal stress testing and studied the impact of a new operating mode on our vehicles emissions production. We are thankful for TRC Inc.'s willingness to provide the support and equipment which will enable all of the teams to develop great vehicles moving into the EcoCAR 3 final competition.” 

 

The Ohio State Camaro shipped out to TRC on Friday, Feb. 2, and returned February 10th. The team was able to collect a number of valuable data to use as we move further in Year Four.
The Ohio State Camaro shipped out to TRC on Friday, Feb. 2, and returned February 10. The Ohio State EcoCAR 3 team was able to collect a number of valuable data to use as we move further in Year Four. Credit:Henning Lohse-Busch

EcoCAR 3 is the latest U.S. Department of Energy Advanced Vehicle Technology Competition series which challenges 16 North American university teams to redesign a 2016 Chevrolet Camaro by demonstrating emerging automotive technologies, while still maintaining the performance expected from this iconic American car. 

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