Educational Activities

EcoCAR: The NeXt Challenge

EcoCAR is the successor to Challenge X and is also a three-year engineering competition headlined sponsored by the Vehicle Technologies Program and General Motors (GM). EcoCAR, started in 2008 and ending in 2011, challenges students to reengineer a 2009 Saturn Vue. The Challenge is to engineer a system that reduces fuel consumption and lower emissions by using advanced vehicle technologies, such as: hydrogen fuel cells, plug-in hybrid technology, hybrid technology, diesel technology and other advanced fueling technologies. EcoCAR also is introducing hardware-in-the-loop (HiL) and software-in-the-loop (SiL) training for its competition students. This is state-of-the-art training and allows students to mirror the real-world development process used by GM and other auto manufacturers from around the world. For more information regarding EcoCAR and its participants visit www.ecocarchallenge.org.

Automotive X Prize

DOE has partnered with Automotive X Prize to develop an educational outreach program aimed at engaging students (kindergarten-12) and the public in learning about advanced, energy-efficient vehicles. DOE is providing $3.5 million over 3 years for the outreach effort. The Automotive X Prize (AXP) is an open competition with the goal of inspiring a new generation of super-efficient vehicles that dramatically reduce oil dependence and greenhouse gas emissions. The Automotive X Prize Education Program is comprised of three integrated activities: 1) an on-line knowledge center, 2) development of a vehicle telemetry package and integration of that package with the AXP online knowledge center, and 3) launch of a national contest to harness student creativity. DOE and the Automotive X Prize's joint venture to bring automotive technology learning to our future engineers and scientists can be found at www.FuelourFutureNow.com.

Graduate Automotive Technology Education (GATE)

The DOE established the GATE Program in 1998 to train a future workforce of automotive engineering professionals knowledgeable about, and experienced in, developing and commercializing advanced automotive technologies to help overcome technology barriers preventing the development and production of cost-effective, high-efficiency vehicles for the U.S. market. To that end, DOE established 10 GATE Centers of Excellence at nine U.S. universities that addressed fuel cells, hybrid electric vehicle drivetrains and control systems, lightweight materials, direct-injection engines, and advanced energy storage.

DOE began a second competition to form new, or expand, existing GATE Centers of Excellence. Award recipients receive funds to support graduate fellowships and to establish and/or upgrade and expand course study work and laboratory work to support a graduate engineering degree with a focus or certificate in a critical automotive technology area. Eight universities received awards and will focus on hybrid propulsion systems, fuel cells, advanced computation and simulation, energy storage systems, biofuels and lightweight materials.

Hydrogen Education

The Hydrogen Fuel Cell and Infrastructure Technologies Program seeks to edify educators and students, state and local government representative, safety and code officials, citizens, and early adopters about the benefits of Hydrogen Fuel Cell technologies. On the Program's website, there are basic information resources to help disseminate information about hydrogen technologies—and Increase Your H2IQ!—as well as course materials and links to additional information.