Ohio Leads the Race in Green Automotive Innovations

The automotive future is looking brighter – and greener – thanks in part to a group of engineering students from The Ohio State University Center for Automotive Research (CAR). Recently, these students set a land speed record of 300 mph for a vehicle – the Buckeye Bullet 2— powered by hydrogen fuels cells. Talk about product innovation, this record-breaking fast car generates zero emissions!

The Ohio State University (OSU) is no stranger to setting land speed records with alternative energy vehicles. OSU's original Buckeye Bullet set the record as the first electric vehicle to go 300 mph. Of course, there is a difference between building a car for speed, and building one that provides sustained speed and power over a longer distance. The good news, though, is that commuter cars don't need to go 300 mph. The fact that it is possible could lead to future interest and product innovation in all-electric and hydrogen-fueled vehicles.

In the past few months, the CARs team has also developed a solar-powered vehicle that gets the equivalent of 2,000 MPG – again, with zero emissions. The CAR team also recently took first place in the 2009 EcoCAR NeXt Challenge for their design of an Extended Range Electric Vehicle (EREV) powered by a 1.8-liter engine and fueled by E85 ethanol – a blended fuel comprised of 85% ethanol and 15% gasoline. The EcoCAR NeXt challenge was sponsored by the US Department of Energy and General Electric among others.

The CARs program is just one example of Ohio’s investment in product innovation that leverages the state’s traditional manufacturing strengths to create the 21st century jobs and industries that will power the state’s economy while creating a sustainable energy future. Click here to learn more about Ohio’s nationally recognized work in advanced energy innovations.