Bet you didn’t know that engineering students from colleges and universities around the country, including one from Georgia Tech are remaking a 2016 Chevy Camaro, to be even more energy efficient, as part of a task and competition being sponsored by GM. Making the Camaro more eco-friendly is the challenge, but it must be accomplished while keeping the style and handling that make it a classic American performance car.
It’s the second year of the EcoCAR 3 competition. Sixteen teams from across the US and Canada have come up with designs they believe will make a 2016 Chevy Camaro an even more energy efficient version of this classic American car. Engineering students across the country have spent years participating in the U.S. Department of Energy’s Advanced Vehicle Technology Competitions, turning standard vehicles into environmentally friendly and fuel-efficient, plug-in hybrid electric vehicles.
Sterling Smith is the Georgia Tech student taking part in the EcoCAR 3 event.
“We are in currently in year two of the four years,” explained Smith. “This is kind of the integration stage. In year four, we hope to have an car that could be purchased in the automotive market.”
This contest in about being eco-friendly and performance. Being ‘green’ shouldn’t mean opting out of performance. All 16 teams are going to be turning to hybrid electric powertrains. The question is who can do the best job of taking those ideas from drawing board to actual implementation?
“We just got back from Yuma, Arizona testing and we at Georgia Tech, just got our vehicle to start for the first time, so that was a big step,” stated Smith.
This could have big implications for the future, here in Atlanta and around the country. You can follow what is going on with Smith and the EcoCar 3 competition here. Read articles and get updates on the competition.
