EcoCAR 2 Revs Up at Winter Workshop

Apr 19, 2013 2:30 PM ET
Campaign: GM Greener Vehicles

GM BeyondNow

An analytical thinker and automotive enthusiast, Cal State engineering graduate student Chris Reid has been nurturing his passion for engineering for many years.

So when he walked into the EcoCAR 2 Winter Workshop, he was fully prepared for five days of focus.

EcoCAR 2, a three-year collegiate student engineering competition, tasks 15 university teams across North America to reduce the environmental impact of a GM-donated 2013 Chevrolet Malibu ECO, without compromising real world performance or safety. At Winter Workshop, Reid and fellow engineering students participate in presentations and training sessions to prepare for Year 2 competition at the GM Proving Ground in Yuma, Ariz. this May, where they’ll be judged on their effort.

“I’ve taken management classes at Cal State, but the management and technical workshops I was able to attend at Winter Workshop are unparalleled,” said Reid. “We had direct access to GM mentors for one-on-one conversations, as well as hands-on experience with software and controls,” said Reid.

During the workshop, teams work directly with competition sponsors and industry experts including those from GM, the U.S. Department of Energy, dSPACE Inc. and Freescale.

“Our team was experiencing issues integrating our engine and transmission into our vehicle,” said Reid. “Thanks to the workshop and available GM expertise and mentorship, we were about to resolve that issue, and ultimately, get our engine in and running.”

We know that it’s one thing studying these challenges in the classroom, but it’s a completely different task attacking it hands-on.

“This is the type of challenge we face in the automotive industry on a daily basis, and Chris and his team were able to tackle it head-on,” said Steve Gurski, GM mechanical engineer and a 14-year veteran of Advanced Vehicle Technology Competitions like EcoCAR. “EcoCAR allows students a feel for the job before they enter the industry and accept a position. It gives them a snapshot of what day-to-day life is really like as an engineer – at GM or elsewhere.”

EcoCAR 2 is part of our commitment to promoting education in the areas of math, science and technology, and to help cultivate the next-generation of engineers in the U.S.  Developing energy alternatives and advanced technologies that help reduce dependency on petroleum, improve fuel economy and reduce emissions are the keys to developing sustainable transportation.