TRC Inc. Will Sponsor EcoCAR 3

 

Transportation Research Center Inc. (TRC Inc.) is excited to announce that we will be sponsoring the next EcoCAR competition – EcoCAR 3. After sponsoring the EcoCAR 2 competition and hosting a portion of the emissions testing event, TRC Inc. was thrilled to have the opportunity to be involved in EcoCAR again.

EcoCAR 3 is the latest U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Advanced Vehicle Technology Competition (AVTC) series and is North America’s premier collegiate automotive engineering competition. The U.S. DOE and General Motors are challenging 16 North American universities to redesign a Chevrolet Camaro into a hybrid-electric car that will reduce environmental impact, while maintaining the muscle and performance expected from this iconic American car. While the model is the most technologically advanced Camaro in the vehicle’s history, EcoCAR 3 teams will be tasked to incorporate innovative ideas, solve complex engineering challenges, and apply the latest cutting-edge technologies. Teams have four years (2014-2018), to harness those ideas into energy to meet engineering, environmental and economic goals. The Camaro will keep its iconic body design, while student teams develop and implement eco-power and performance under the hood, retain safety and meet high consumer standards. The teams also will focus on developing technology that will lower emissions by incorporating alternative fuels.

The 16 competing universities for this series include:  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, and West Virginia University.

Argonne National Laboratory, a U.S. DOE research and development facility, will retain the management and operational responsibilities of the AVTC series, and the series will be co-headline sponsored by General Motors. Additional sponsors include:  Transportation Research Center Inc., MathWorks, California Environmental Protection Agency Air Resources Board, Freescale, Clean Cities, AVL, Bosch, ETAS, dSPACE, Snap-on, GKN, EnerDel, Proterra, Ricardo, EM Powering, and A123 Systems.

This competition will build upon the 25-year history of the U.S. DOE AVTC series and seeks to develop the next generation of automotive engineers with unparalleled experience designing, promoting, and building leading-edge automotive technologies. TRC Inc. is excited to be part of this prestigious competition and we look forward to working with all of the organizations and universities over the next four years.

For more information about the EcoCAR 3 competition, visit:  http://www.ecocar3.org/.

April 2014 Tracks Newsletter

 

 

The April 2014 Tracks Newsletter is now available for download at: http://www.trcpg.com/other-pages/newsletter-archives.aspx.

To sign up for our newsletter visit: http://www.trcpg.com/contact-us.aspx.

EcoCAR 2 Emissions Testing Event at TRC

 

 

The Emissions Testing Event for 12 EcoCAR 2 teams took place at the Transportation Research Center (TRC) in East Liberty, Ohio. The event offers teams eight hours of emissions and fuel economy testing in a controlled laboratory environment.... The teams will effectively be given a state-of-the art, open test bed to calibrate control strategies and shake down their vehicles before final competition in June.

Acting as a kind of 'treadmill for cars,' a chassis dynamometer offers the ability to virtually drive a vehicle under a multitude of different scenarios or 'drive cycles,' such as urban driving, highway driving and aggressive driving.

 

Department of Energy Grant Opportunity

 

 

Check out the Department of Energy’s Vehicle Technologies Program Wide Funding Opportunity (DE-FOA-0000991) at:  http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=250277. This opportunity contains a total of 14 areas of interest in advanced light-weighting, advanced battery development, power electronics, advanced heating, ventilation, air conditioning systems, and fuels and lubricants. Contact Transportation Research Center Inc. for your test needs and for more information about our facilities and support staff.

The January 2014 Tracks Newsletter is now available for download at: http://www.trcpg.com/other-pages/newsletter-archives.aspx.

To sign up for our newsletter visit: http://www.trcpg.com/contact-us.aspx.

Schroer Receives Royal Award

Roger Schroer, performance driver at Transportation Research Center Inc. (TRC Inc.), recently traveled with The Ohio State University’s (OSU) Buckeye Bullet team to the Bonneville Salt Flats for Speedweek, in hopes to break last year’s electric vehicle speed record.  The Bullet, named BB3, was to be driven by Roger, who is the driver for the Bullet each year.  

The meet was originally scheduled for September 12-18, however, a large storm system flooded the salt flats, leading to eventual postponement of the event. Venturi, the primary sponsor of the Buckeye Bullet, arranged to have the team work out of an airport hanger located in Wendover, Utah.  On the airstrip, the team was also able to conduct some low speed testing on one of their taxiways. Since the BB3 is still being developed, every test run is important, and the team learned a great deal about the car.

Venturi, the sponsor of the Buckeye Bullet, is located in the European country of Monaco.  Thierry Apparu of Venturi is an acquaintance of the royal family in Monaco, leading to a visit by Prince Albert and Princess Charlene on September 18^th.  Roger Schroer presented the Prince with a racing helmet which is a duplicate of the one worn while driving the Buckeye Bullet.  Prince Albert then presented a medal to Roger Schroer, which was the first time a medal had ever been presented outside of the palace.

The team plans to return to Bonneville in 2014 in an effort to raise the electric vehicle record above 400 MPH.  You can learn more about the BB3 at www.buckeyebullet.com/BB3.html.

TRC Inc. Builds New IIHS Crash Test Fixture

TRC Inc.’s Impact Laboratory recently built a crash test fixture used to conduct The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) Small Overlap Frontal Crashworthiness Evaluation.  The fabrication of the fixture was completed in August. 

The IIHS is an independent, nonprofit scientific and educational organization dedicated to reducing the losses (deaths, injuries and property damage) from crashes on the nation's roads.  On August 14, 2012, IIHS released the details of this more demanding frontal offset test.  The Small Overlap Frontal Crashworthiness Evaluation, used in addition to the 40% offset test introduced in 1995, subjects only 25% of the front end of the vehicle to a 40 mph impact.   The test is designed to duplicate what happens when the front corner of a car collides with another vehicle or strikes a slim object, such as a utility pole or tree.  

The rating system is similar to the 40% offset, but has some key differences: hip/thigh and lower leg/foot ratings replace individual ratings for each leg and foot, and a full score cannot be attained without deployment of side and side curtain airbags (due to severe side movement often resulting from this test).

Visit our website to learn more about TRC Inc.’s Impact Laboratory and capabilities.