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Uwaterloo, UVic, UOIT Compete to Build Most Fuel Efficient Car

By Ryan Leclaire
  |  
  1 Min Read
The Next Challenge

The contest pits school against school as they work towards building a fuel-efficient vehicle.

Three Canadian universities have advanced to the elite second round of the international EcoCAR competition.

The 3-year contest pits school against school as they work towards building a fuel-efficient, low-emission vehicle. Sixteen North American universities are trying to create the next big innovation in green cars that minimizes fuel consumption and emissions.

The second round of the contest (EcoCAR 2–Plugging into the Future) requires teams to develop advanced powertrain and vehicle technologies, using a Chevrolet Malibu as the integration platform.

In year two and three of the competition, the student’s cars must be as good or better than production vehicles in the following categories:

  • Technologies that reduce petroleum energy consumption on the basis of a total fuel cycle well-to-wheel (WTW) analysis
  • Vehicle energy efficiency
  • Reduced criteria and WTW greenhouse gas (GHG) and criteria emissions
  • Consumer acceptability in the areas of performance, utility and safety

Teams will use lightweight materials in the vehicles, improve aerodynamics and rely on alternative fuels such as ethanol, biodiesel and hydrogen.

During the various stages of the program, General Motors will provide vehicles, vehicle components, seed money, technical mentoring and operational support.

Schools mentioned: The University of Victoria, University of Ontario Institute of Technology, University of Waterloo

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