How OSU EcoCAR 3 “Goes Green”

EcoCAR 3 is an advanced vehicle technology competition sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy and General Motors.

Over the next four years, Ohio State student engineers will be redesigning and reengineering a 2016 Chevrolet Camaro into a plug-hybrid vehicle. Competing against 16 other universities in North America, Ohio State’s goal is to reduce emissions and increase fuel economy while maintaining safety, performance, and consumer acceptability.

For 2015, OSU EcoCAR 3 wanted to celebrate Earth Day in a big way. We created a campaign for our campus Earth Day event called #RandomActsOfGreen. Students from across Ohio State participated by sharing how they “go green” on a daily basis. We heard stories of reusing plastic bags as lunch bags and recycling water bottles instead of putting them in the trash!

We even shared our own tips on green driving, which included carpooling when possible, walking or riding your bicycle more often, and considering an electric vehicle.

On Saturday, April 25, we expanded our Earth Day story by participating in the Hilliard Earth Day community event. We showcased our very own EcoCAR 2, a Chevrolet Malibu converted into a plug-in hybrid vehicle, as well as other alternative fuel vehicles like a Tesla Model S, a compressed natural gas-powered Honda Civic, and an all-electric racing motorcycle built by Ohio State students.

Earth Day provides a great platform to encourage the community to remember how to go green. We were happy to share our activities with Ohio State students and the Hilliard community.