The third year of the EcoCAR challenge has begun, and what better way to kick it off than by checking in on the team that came out on top at the end of year two?
We caught up with the team from Mississippi State University while they were attending a workshop at the headquarters of lead EcoCAR sponsor MathWorks. Along with the fifteen other teams, Mississippi State received advanced training in MathWorks' modeling software in preparation of getting their vehicles showroom ready.
According to the controls group team leader Brian Benoy, the team is in a good position after a second year win. "It feels really good to be at the top," he said. "The second year is arguably the most important year because you see all of your designs come to life and you do all of your component integration, and end up with a vehicle that runs or doesn’t run."
Mississippi State's car ran exceptionally well, with a 60 mile all-electric range, fuel economy of 118 MPGe, all-wheel drive and no compromises. From a driver's standpoint, the car was virtually indistinguishable from a vehicle with a conventional powertrain.
"We kept all of our seats, we didn’t really change anything in the dash," said Benoy. "When you look at the vehicle, you can’t tell unless you look under the vehicle that anything was done to it. That being said, we did a lot to it."
The user-friendliness and familiarity of Mississippi State's car is key to the support it gained in the state, with commendations from the state legislature and a visit from the governor, according to faculty advisor Marshall Molen.
A feel-good argument for driving an eco-friendly car "isn’t going to sell a hybrid in Mississippi," Molen said. "But they do warm up to the idea that all of this imported oil is a problem." That's why Mississippi State's team has a dedicated outreach group that draws attention to electric and hybrid technology with a focus on the concerns of the local community.
One example of the team's outreach involved dispelling myths about hybrid technology. "Last year we did market research and the one thing that consumers were concerned about were safety concerns associated with myths about hybrids," said the outreach group team leader Lee Pratt. To counter those concerns, the outreach group conducted a public education campaign.
The best strategy for winning over wary customers, however, is building a flawless vehicle. Molen said that the controls team is working to further refine the powertrain and incorporate a student-built display into the car, but we'll have to wait for the actual competition to see the fruits of their labors.
The team, however, won't have to wait until the car is built to test their products, which is one of the benefits of using simulation software and a big difference between EcoCAR and student-built vehicles from years past.
"You don’t have to bend any metal or cut anything until you know you’ve got it right in simulation," said Paul Smith, the EcoCAR technical lead at MathWorks.
Molen said that training helps prepare students for real-world jobs in the auto industry, ready to design hybrids and electric vehicles. "Because of the specialized training, thanks to companies like the MathWorks and GM, our students have become much more prepared to work in this industry," he said.
Photo: Mississippi State University
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