Green Buckeyes Sustainability Scavenger Hunt: CAR (Center for Automotive Research)

July 8, 2016

Green locations on campus don’t always have to mean green roofs, gardens, and wildlife. At the Center for Automotive Research (CAR), located on Kinnear Road, a short distance west of the Olentangy River, student volunteers get hands on experience in state of the art facilities to make technological leaps in the automotive engineering industry. Some of the projects that students can be a part of include the award-winning EcoCar Challenge team, the Supermileage Challenge team, the Baja off-road racing team, the Formula Buckeyes racing team, the Buckeye Bullet team, and the Buckeye Current team. All of these projects offer students from various majors an opportunity to improve their knowledge of mechanical engineering while creating some of the most efficient vehicles seen today.

At CAR, students have the opportunity to use software to find the optimal design, then test out their design on engine and chassis dynamometers. Efficiency is a key goal, and gas analyzers also test the emissions of the vehicle to ensure environmental integrity. Additionally, 48 solar panels on the roofs of the facilities provide energy to electric vehicle charging stations outside of the buildings. Students can also use 3D modeling equipment to make their own custom parts.  The Center for Automotive Research is not only a great place for students to go and get a step ahead in the field of automotive technology and engineering, but also in paving the way for a more sustainable future.