The West Virginia University EcoCAR team participated in the WVU Odyssey held by the National Alternative Fuels Training Consortium (NAFTC) on Friday.

The event was held on the front lawn of the National Research Center for Coal and Energy (NRCCE) building and ran from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m.. The expo showcased WVU’s alternative fuel vehicles from the past and present.

The WVU EcoCAR team displayed their vehicle and allowed those interested to examine the car. Team members spoke with passersby about the architecture of the vehicle as well as the specifics of the EcoCAR competition.

“This is a great opportunity to speak with the public about the vehicle,” said WVU EcoCAR faculty advisor Scott Wayne. “I think that there is a great deal of interest in this vehicle, especially around WVU’s engineering campus.”

The event was hampered at times by rain; however the participants were not deterred, nor were those interested in alternative fuel vehicles.

“I don’t think the rain was a big factor,” said WVU EcoCAR team leader Zach Cohen. “Anybody who is interested in these types of vehicles will come out to support us or learn a little more about them.”

Many members of the WVU EcoCAR team were impressed by the amount of people interested in alternative fuel vehicles.

“I think there a great turnout,” said WVU Ecocar outreach coordinator Nick Cavender. “I was speaking with people about the car almost constantly throughout the day. There was not much down time.”

The WVU EcoCAR team will display their vehicle in the WVU Homecoming parade next Friday, October 22nd.