EcoCAR competition unveils student designs for cars of the future
EcoCAR:The NeXt Challenge, a competition sponsored primarily by General Motors and the Department of Energy, announced its big reveal of 17 futuristic vehicle designs submitted by students from various colleges around the U.S. Taking participants from the brainstorming stage through the production of a prototype, the three-year contest is meant to showcase realistic green concepts on the verge of becoming reality - from electric motors to hydrogen fuel cells.
Here’s a quick roundup of the designs presented for consideration:
All 17 of the submissions can be plugged in to cut down on gas usage and use lithium ion batteries to extend driving range. In addition to conforming to realistic conditions, the designs will be judged by a panel of experts and sponsors on counts of performance, consumer appeal, safety, ride quality and environmental footprint. Winning teams get recogniition from major institutions and potential employers, in addition to varying cash prizes put up by contributors.
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