TRC Inc. Sponsoring the EcoCAR 2 Year Three Emissions Testing Event

The Transportation Research Center Inc. (TRC Inc.) has recently become a competition-level sponsor for the EcoCAR 2 Year Three emissions testing event, where TRC Inc. will be providing the facilities, resources and testing expertise.  EcoCAR 2: Plugging In to the Future is a three-year collegiate engineering competition and the only program of its kind.  The competition’s mission is a vital one: offer an unparalleled hands-on, real-world experience to educate the next generation of automotive engineers.  The competition challenges 15 universities across North America to reduce the environmental impact of a Chevrolet Malibu without compromising performance, safety and consumer acceptability.

 

Two TRC Inc. representatives will travel to San Diego, California in May 2013, joining representatives from government and industry organizations, to judge the Mechanical and Business portions of the EcoCAR 2 Year Two competition finals.  The Mechanical presentations will be focused on the build and initial testing of the EcoCAR vehicle, while the Business presentations will cover the teams’ entire year of business activities and results.

 

The EcoCAR 2 Year Three emissions testing event will take place at TRC in Spring 2014, where all competition vehicles will be allowed several hours of testing time on a 2 or 4-wheel-drive chassis dynamometer with full emissions measurement capability.  This event will ultimately give teams vital testing time in a controlled environment to provide valuable data for vehicle control strategy calibration and improvement as well as for EcoCAR student theses and dissertations.

 

During the three-year program, EcoCAR 2 teams will follow a real-world Vehicle Development Process (VDP) modeled after GM’s VDP.  The VDP serves as a roadmap for the engineering process of designing, building and refining their advanced technology vehicles. Following a VDP will give the teams an opportunity to improve their vehicles efficiency while retaining consumer acceptability, performance and safety.

 

To learn more about the EcoCAR 2 program, visit www.ecocar2.org.

Emissions Laboratory Upgrades

 

 

Transportation Research Center Inc.’s (TRC Inc.) Emissions Laboratory has recently purchased a new AVL Particle Counter, a small engine dynamometer, and has recommissioned its Sealed Housing for Evaporative Determination (SHED) in order to meet changing industry and customer needs.

  

The new AVL Particle Counter 489 measures and analyzes the non-volatile particle number concentrations, or Particulate Number (PN), of engine exhaust gas, in accordance with European standards.

  

TRC Inc. has also added a new 30kW Magtrol 2WB115-V/S001m small engine dynamometer, which has helped bridge the gap in the Emissions Laboratory’s engine emissions testing capabilities.  TRC Inc.’s Emissions Laboratory provides small engine emissions testing for gasoline and diesel, ranging from fractional horsepower up to 320 horsepower. 

 

 In order to improve testing for exhaust gas emissions and hydrocarbon vapors, TRC Inc. has recommissioned its SHED chamber.  The SHED, in which the temperature can be controlled, tests the exhaust gas emitted during the operation of vehicles and the amount of hydrocarbon vapors emitted during the refueling of motor vehicles.  It is capable of completing the standard one-hour heat build and hot soak evaporative emissions tests currently required for motorcycle certification.  TRC Inc. is in the process of certifying variable temperature, on-board refueling vapor recovery (ORVR), and point-source Running Loss evaporative SHEDs for light-duty vehicle certification.

7.5-Mile Test Track Repaving Project

 

Celebrated upon dedication as the world’s largest transportation research center, with over 200 million miles of durability testing and a recorded top speed of 254 mph, this iconic facility recently underwent a complete resurfacing. 

The track officially opened for testing in 1974, and it has never been completely closed for a full resurfacing in its 38 years.  Motorcycles, passenger cars, buses, trucks, and much more have been continually tested on the 7.5-Mile Test Track for a variety of research and test programs.  The track is frequently used for mileage accumulation, long-term durability studies, brake burnishes, fuel economy programs, and much more.

The original track consisted of concrete and asphalt lanes, but is now be completely resurfaced with asphalt.  The rehabilitation process will help prevent reflective cracking and create a smoother surface, allowing for greater utilization of the straightaways and permitting the return of high speeds in the curves.

If you have any questions or concerns, or would like additional information about the resurfacing project, please feel free to contact us at 937-666-2011.

25th Anniversary of TRC Inc.

 

January 25, 2013 marked Transportation Research Center Inc.'s (TRC Inc.) 25^th Anniversary.  TRC Inc. was created by The Ohio State University, who had been managing what was then called Transportation Research Center of Ohio, since 1979.  The creation of TRC Inc. coincided with the sale of the facility by the state and allowed TRC Inc. to continue to operate as a multi-user facility.  A full history and timeline with facility construction can be reviewed on our facebook page. 

In celebration of TRC Inc.’s 25^th Anniversary, our Vision, Mission, and Goals have been revised to more accurately reflect our Global Image and our desire to enhance our capabilities through collaboration and partnerships with academia, industry and government, while satisfying stakeholder expectations.  

Our new vision is “To be the global leader in mobility development, research and testing solutions” and our new mission is “As a global independent provider of development, research and testing, TRC Inc. serves the mobility industry with a world-class facility, high-quality services and innovative solutions through collaboration and partnerships with academia, industry and government, while satisfying stakeholder expectations.” 

To review our quality and environmental statements visit our website.

 

Annual Report 2012 Released

Transportation Research Center Inc.'s (TRC Inc.) Fiscal Year 2012 Annual report is now available for download on our website: http://www.trcpg.com/about-trc/annual-report.aspx.

The report highlights three areas: facility and equipment improvements; business area reports for Durability and Dynamics Operations, Laboratory Operations, and Contract Services; and information on community outreach and corporate activities.

 

 

Automotive Testing Expo North America 2012

 

Pictured above from left to right: Jeffrey Sprague, Kelli Young, Paige Duff, and Milt Dunlop.

 

Transportation Research Center Inc. attended the Automotive Testing Expo North America, which took place from October 23-25, 2012 at the Suburban Collection Showplace in Novi, Michigan. The event highlighted the very latest technologies and services that are designed to ensure that the highest standards are met in terms of product quality, reliability, durability and safety.

2012 Ohio Green Fleets Showcase & Technology Expo

 

Transportation Research Center Inc. attended the 2012 Ohio Green Fleets Showcase and annual Awards Luncheon and Technology Expo, which was held on September 12, 2012 at The River Club at Confluence Park, in Columbus, Ohio. The event's activities highlighted the creative strategies that certified fleets have used to improve vehicle fuel efficiency and environmental performance.