by Nicholas Cavender

The West Virginia University EcoCAR team has been hard at work over the past few weeks preparing for the visit from EcoCAR officials on March 23.

Over the past weeks, the WVU EcoCAR team has been hard at work installing their high voltage battery module. The module is an integral part of the vehicle as it will provide power to all high power systems.

The high power systems include (but are not limited to) the steering, braking, fuel and exhaust systems of the vehicle. It is separate from the engine battery, which provides power mostly for systems on the vehicle’s dashboard.

The team is also awaiting the arrival of parts which will allow them to work more closely with the vehicle’s computer systems.

Engineering team leader Brody Conklin is confident in the team’s abilities.

“I think that the vehicle is coming along pretty much on schedule,” said Conklin. “The team is working hard and we’re having a blast working on the car.”

While many members of the team are working on installing parts in the vehicle, others are working on creating parts for the vehicle’s exhaust system which will allow a more eco-friendly emissions.

Seniors Alan Kuskil and Adam Lupo spent time last week drafting product designs for these parts.

“This is one of the most important parts of the vehicle,” said Kuskil about the exhaust system, “because the goal is to lower emissions. The issue right now is trying to create a system that improves the quality of emissions while maintaining the rest of the vehicle’s abilities.”

The team is eager to meet with EcoCAR officials today to show off their hard work.