AChevrolet Malibu may the furthest thing from the Batmobile, but it's about to be transformed into a car of the future by University of Victoria engineering students.
UVic is one of 15 North American universities - and one of two in ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½, along with Ontario's University of Waterloo - with teams competing in EcoCar 2: Plugging into the Future competition. The challenge of the three-year competition, which began earlier this year, is to build a fuel-efficient, low-emission next-generation vehicle with low impact on the environment. EcoCar 2 requires the students to explore a variety of powertrain architectures based on electric-drive technology.
All teams receive an identical Malibu to use for testing their new technology.
They will consider a variety of solutions, including all-electric, range-extended electric and fuel-cell technologies. In addition, students will consider the use of different lightweight materials, improve aerodynamics and explore the use of alternative fuels such as ethanol, biodiesel and hydrogen.
"We're excited that UVic students have this opportunity to apply leading-edge research in a hands-on situation," says Howard Brunt, UVic vice-president for research. "Working on innovations for a more sustainable future is something we can all be proud of."
In 2009, a UVic team placed second overall in the inaugural EcoCar competition.
The 15 university teams competing in EcoCar 2 recently met for six days of judging in Los Angeles, where UVic received several awards. With the design and modelling finalized, the students will spend the next two years testing and refining their vehicle.
EcoCar 2 is sponsored by General Motors and the U.S. Department of Energy. Natural Resources ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½ is a supporter of the competition. For more information, visit ecocar.uvic.ca.
