Wednesday, December 8, 2010

Buckeye Bullet 2.5 Breaks Another World Record


Students from the Ohio State University’s Center for Auto Research (CAR) witnessed their electric-powered vehicle, the Buckeye Bullet 2.5, make history on August 24, 2010. TRC Inc.’s Roger Schroer drove the Buckeye Bullet 2.5, which averaged 307.7 miles per hour in back-to-back runs on Utah’s Bonneville Salt Flats. The Buckeye Bullet 2.5 defeated the previous international land speed world record of 245.5 mph, which was set in 1999. Roger Schroer has worked at TRC for 26 years as a test and development high performance driver, and this is Schroer’s third time returning from the Bonneville Salt Flats with a world record in the Ohio State University’s streamliner. When asked what the most exciting part about setting a land speed record, Roger’s response was that, “the true thrill comes from witnessing the teamwork involved in building the car.”
The Bullet, built by student engineers at CAR, with help from Monaco-based electric vehicle manufacturer Venturi, started its run for the record on August 23. Schroer hit a new record of 291 mph, then topped it on August 24 when he averaged 307.7 mph.

The Buckeye Bullet 2.5 is a modified version of the Buckeye Bullet 2, a hydrogen fuel cell-powered vehicle, which owns the record for its propulsion class, attaining an average speed of 302.9 m.p.h. in 2009. The major modification for the 2.5 was the removal of the Ballard fuel cells, which were replaced with A123 batteries. The purpose of the Buckeye Bullet 2.5 was to provide a testing platform for systems that will be used in the Buckeye Bullet 3.

Significant changes and upgrades are already planned for the Buckeye Bullet 3, based on nearly a decade of design and racing of land speed vehicles. The Ohio State students plan to develop an entirely new chassis and body. The vehicle will be driven by two custom made electric motors, designed and developed by Venturi and will be powered by prismatic A123 batteries. The goal of the Buckeye Bullet 3 is to surpass all previous electric vehicle land speed records.


You can learn more about the Buckeye Bullet by visiting: http://www.buckeyebullet.com/.

Adopt-A-Highway 2010


On June 4, 2010 TRC Inc. employees took part in the Adopt-A-Highway clean-up. TRC Inc. has been adopting two miles on U.S. Route 33, for over 15 years. The cleaning takes place two times a year, typically in May and October. The Adopt-A-Highway program is one of many Community Relations programs that TRC Inc. is involved with. For more information about our Community Relations programs visit: http://www.trcpg.com/aboutcommrelations.asp.

Finalists Chosen for 2011 PACE Awards

Automotive News, Transportation Research Center Inc. (TRC Inc.), and Ernst & Young have named thirty-five Finalist for the 2011 Automotive News PACE Awards.  (PACE stands for Premier Automotive Suppliers' Contribution to Excellence).

Now in its 16th year, the annual award celebrates
automotive suppliers who have embraced innovation or adapted and reinvented themselves to meet the demands of the original equipment manufacturers. This prestigious award sets the standard for innovation and excellence and is recognized around the world as the industry symbol of innovation. Every year hundreds of automotive suppliers around the globe submit their innovation to win this distinguished award.

A select panel of industry experts is currently judging each innovation over the next few months and winners will be announced during the Annual SAE World Congress on April 11th at a ceremony held at the Max M. Fisher Music Center in Detroit. 

This is TRC Inc.’s tenth year as an awards sponsor

Below are the companies and their finalist innovations, by category.

Product:
Behr GmbH & Co.
Stuttgart
For: Comfort Vent for Air Conditioning Systems

Behr GmbH & Co.
Stuttgart
For: Storage Evaporator for Vehicles with Start-Stop Systems

BorgWarner Morse TEC
Auburn Hills, Mich.
For: Variable Camshaft Timing System with Mid Position Lock

Continental AG
Hanover, Germany, and Auburn Hills, Mich.
For: Continental Accelerator Force Feedback Pedal (AFFP)

Continental AG
Hanover, Germany, and Auburn Hills, Mich.
For: Continental EC Fuel Pump

Delphi Automotive
Troy, Mich.
For: Delphi Multec Gas Direct Fuel Injector

DYMOS Inc.
Dongtan, South Korea
For: HKSF Optimized Seating Architecture

Eco Motors
Allen Park, Mich.
For: Eco Motors OPOC (Opposed Piston-Opposed Cylinder) Engine Technology

Federal-Mogul Corp.
Southfield, Mich.
For: EcoTough Piston Coating to Reduce Fuel Consumption and CO2 Emissions

Federal-Mogul Corp.
Southfield, Mich.
For: IROX Polymer Sliding Layer for Engine Bearings

Federal-Mogul Corp.
Southfield, Mich.
For: Low-Friction LKZ Oil Ring

Freudenberg-NOK General Partnership
Plymouth, Mich.
For: Freudenberg-NOK FluoroXprene Fluoroelastomers

Henkel Corp.
Madison Heights, Mich.
For: Terophon High Damping Foam

Honeywell Turbo Technologies
Torrance, Calif.
For: Honeywell DualBoost Turbocharger for Medium-Duty Diesel Engines

Hutchinson FTS Inc.
Troy, Mich.
For: Inline Heat Exchanger (IHX) for Mobile A/C Systems

Janesville Acoustics
Southfield, Mich.
For: Molded Fiber IP Closeouts with Integrated Lighting and Ducts

Key Safety Systems Inc.
Sterling Heights, Mich.
For: INFLATABELT (Inflatable Seat Belt System)

Lear Corp.
Southfield, Mich.
For: Evolution Seat

Lear Corp.
Southfield, Mich.
For: Lear Plug-in and Electric Vehicle Charging Systems

Lear Corp.
Southfield, Mich.
For: Lear Solid State Smart Junction Box (S3JBTM)

Mahle GmbH
Stuttgart
For: Electrical Waste Gate Actuator

Martinrea International Inc.
Troy, Mich.
For: Infinicote Waterborne Corrosion and Chemical Resistant Coating

OSRAM Opto Semiconductors GmbH
Regensburg, Germany
For: OSTAR Headlamp — LED Headlamp Light Source

Robert Bosch GmbH
Stuttgart
For: Bosch P2 Parallel Full Hybrid System

Robert Bosch GmbH
Stuttgart
For: Windshield Wiper Direct Drive System

Schaeffler Technologies
Troy, Mich.
For: INA Lightweight Balance Shaft with Roller Bearings

TK Holdings Inc.
Auburn Hills, Mich.
For: Vacuum Folding Technology

TRW Occupant Safety Systems
Alfdorf, Germany, and Washington, Mich.
For: Self Adaptive Load Limiter

Valeo SA
Paris
For: BeamAtic Premium — Non-Glaring High Beam

Valeo SA
Paris
For: Dual Direct Drive Front Wiper System

Woodbridge Group
Mississauga, Ontario
For: StrataLiner NET — High-Performance Headliner Composite Boards

Process:
Federal-Mogul Corp.
Southfield, Mich.
For: K16 bonded pistons

Valeo SA
Paris
For: Insulated Molded Leadframe (IML) Technology
Information Technology:
Dassault Systemes
Dearborn
, Mich.

For: Powertrain Digital Integration and Automation (PDIA)
OEConnection
Richfield
, Ohio

For: FordParts.Com portal