The 2016 Ecomaro is a Plug-In Hybrid Built by Brilliant Students

Is there a better automotive student group name that’s more 2016 and more American than the EcoEagles? Not a chance. And the group from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University is more than just a flashy name. They’re smart as hell, their work is equally as awesome, and they’re building an unconventional Chevrolet Camaro you never knew you’d like.

It’s all part of the Department of Energy’s EcoCAR 3: An Advanced Vehicle Technology Competition that’s sponsored by General Motors and coincidentally run by the Argonne National Laboratory, where my dad works (not that you care). The idea is to take a new Camaro, maintain its muscle, but make it more environmentally friendly. That’s why Embry-Riddle is building a hybrid plug-in powertrain for the Chevy icon.

The teams all have from 2014-2018 to complete the objective. The main points are to reduce energy consumption; reduce well-to-wheel GHG emissions; reduce criteria tailpipe emissions; maintain consumer acceptability in the areas of performance, utility, and safety; and meet energy and environmental goals, while considering cost and innovation.

Naturally, that makes for quite a complicated set up. The car uses a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine from a Chevy Equinox and an eight-speed transmission from an ATS-V. The engine is connected to two 70kW motors that, when strictly running in electric mode, will get 40 miles of range. Once that’s up, the engine can run the car or act as a generator to power one motor while the other charges the batter.

The batteries (350v, 18.9 kWh lithium-ion) sit in the trunk and can help the engine provide a range of 180 miles in hybrid mode. If you want to get sporty, the car can produce up to 350 horsepower and 657 lb-ft of torque.

How would you feel if Chevy actually built one of these for production?

[Via Jalopnik]