The Ohio State University has won the EcoCar competition the past two years running, and it’s looking to continue the streak.
The Columbus Dispatch released the latest report on what the OSU EcoCar3 team has been up to with its 2016 Chevrolet Camaro. The team has completed the necessary ground work on the updated, eco-friendly powertrain for the 3.6-liter LGX V6 powered Camaro. When all is said and done, the OSU team is hoping to achieve 60 mpg through a a hybrid powertrain running E85.
The approach is very similar a PHEV setup, with the Camaro intended to run on an electric motor for up to 40 miles.
OSU is currently competing with 16 other universities across the United States and Canada, with each school granted access to a 2016 Camaro 2LT to tear apart and rebuild. The mission is to retain the sporting, fun-to-drive characteristics the Camaro is synonymous with while improving fuel efficiency greatly.
The competition serves as a hands-on learning experience for students, and also as a good recruitment tool for the automotive industry at large.
“We’re essentially trying to build a Volt in three months with a volunteer workforce,” said Shawn Midlam-Mohler, an engineering professor and the team’s faculty adviser. “That’s pretty aggressive.”
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