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The team from the Ohio State University took home the top honors in the Energy Department's EcoCAR 2 competition for its plug-in hybrid electric vehicle that runs on electricity and E85. | Photo courtesy of EcoCAR 2.

EcoCAR 2 is a three-year competition that challenges 15 universities from across North America to reduce the environmental impact of a 2013 Chevrolet Malibu by minimizing the vehicle's fuel consumption and reducing its emissions while retaining the vehicle's performance, safety, and consumer appeal. | Photo courtesy of EcoCAR 2.

To kick off Year 1 of EcoCAR 2, students attended a four-day workshop packed full of sessions designed to provide students with the skills and knowledge they’ll need over the course of the competition. For example, teams learned how to use math-based design tools to compare and select an advanced vehicle powertrain. They also toured GM’s Powertrain Performance Build Center, where they spent time with highly skilled builders while they had the opportunity to assemble sections of an engine. Pictured here are members of the University of Washington team inspecting a Corvette engine in the Powertrain Performance Build Center. | Photo courtesy of EcoCAR 2.

Year 1 of the EcoCAR 2 competition emphasized engineering design. Using modeling and simulation tools, teams selected and virtually tested their plug-in hybrid electric vehicle architecture and started developing some of the major vehicle subsystems. As part of the Year 1 finals in Los Angeles, teams presented their vehicle designs and business plans to more than 100 judges over the course of six days. Pictured here are members of the University of Waterloo team at the Year 1 competition. | Photo courtesy of EcoCAR 2.

The 15 teams competing in EcoCAR 2 converged in Yuma, Arizona, for the Year 2 finals. The two-part competition consisted of on-road vehicle testing at the GM Desert Proving Grounds in Yuma and presentations in San Diego, California. In preparation for dynamic vehicle testing, which began with the crucial first step of a safety inspection, the University of Tennessee team is working on its car in the garage. | Photo courtesy of EcoCAR 2.

Over the span of 10 days, each team’s vehicle underwent engineering tests similar to those conducted by the automotive industry to determine a prototype's readiness for production and ultimately prove the viability of their advanced technology vehicles. Pictured here, members from the Embry Riddle Aeronautical University team work on their car. | Photo courtesy of EcoCAR 2.

A team member from North Carolina State University prepares for high voltage testing on their battery pack during the Year 2 competition. The team has built a series hybrid. | Photo courtesy of EcoCAR 2.

Using the same track GM uses to test its vehicles, the California State University-Los Angeles team competes in a gradeability event to test the endurance of the vehicle. The trailer attached to the vehicle simulates the same pull the vehicle would go through if climbing up a steep hill. | Photo courtesy of EcoCAR 2.

Students from Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology work under the hood of their car at the Year 2 finals in Yuma, Arizona. Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology’s vehicle combines an internal combustion engine that runs on E85 (gasoline blended with 85 percent ethanol) and an electric motor to allow the car to operate in two different modes: all-electric and as a hybrid-electric vehicle running on E85. | Photo courtesy of EcoCAR 2.

The team from Mississippi State University goes through a safety and tech inspection on their car at the Yuma Proving Grounds in Arizona. | Photo courtesy of EcoCAR 2.

As part of the second half of the Year 2 finale in San Diego, students hosted an educational day. A middle school science class from the area checked out the teams’ vehicles while team members taught students about energy efficient vehicle design. Pictured here, a few students look at all the features of Colorado State University’s vehicle. | Photo courtesy of EcoCAR 2.

During Year 3 of EcoCAR 2, students continue to improve their vehicles, refining them into near-production prototypes. The two-part final took place in Milford, Michigan, and Washington, D.C., over 10 days. Pictured here, students from the Ohio State University work on their car in the garage at GM’s Milford Proving Grounds. The Ohio State University team was the first to pass the 300-point safety tech inspection, a requirement before the team could begin an on-road safety evaluation. | Photo courtesy of EcoCAR 2.

EcoCAR 2 challenges university students to also think about a vehicle’s performance, safety and consumer acceptance, and cargo space is a crucial aspect to consumer acceptability. To test their vehicle’s capacity to haul cargo, University of Victoria team members load boxes that mimic a large load in both size and weight. One of the judges is measuring the distance from the bottom of the vehicle to the ground to ensure there is enough clearance when the vehicle is weighed down. | Photo courtesy of EcoCAR 2.

Students from Purdue University work on their vehicle, making last-minute adjustments before a day of tests. The team’s vehicle can run in electric-only mode or use a diesel engine that operates on B20 (20 percent biodiesel blend). Team members reattach the front bumper of their car after making adjustments. | Photo courtesy of EcoCAR 2.

GM professional drivers pushed the teams’ vehicles to the limits to measure the cars’ performance in the Autocross Event (a key part of vehicle testing). The drivers made three attempts through the serpentine coned-course, trying to beat the stock vehicle’s time. For the first time in an Energy Department advanced vehicle competition, all 15 teams qualified to compete in the Autocross Event after having passed both the safety tech and on-road safety evaluation. In the end, Wayne State University’s car had the fastest Autocross time, beating the stock vehicle’s time by nearly 0.6 seconds. | Photo courtesy of EcoCAR 2.

The Energy Department's Dr. Michael Knotek, Deputy Under Secretary for Science and Energy, speaks at the EcoCAR 2 Finish Line event in Washington, D.C. | Photo courtesy of Sarah Gerrity, Energy Department.

On June 12, 2014, all the EcoCAR 2 cars were on display at the Energy Department's headquarters in Washington, D.C. The general public had the opportunity to check out the cars and take them for a test drive as part of a ride-and-drive event. Pictured here is Virginia Tech's vehicle. | Photo courtesy of Sarah Gerrity, Energy Department.

Ohio State University’s vehicle came out on top after taking the lead in multiple categories, including best pre-competition safety and technical inspection, lowest criteria emissions and best communications plan. | Photo courtesy of EcoCAR 2.

After three years of intense competition, team from the University of Washington came in second in EcoCAR 2. The team demonstrated the most energy-efficient vehicle, a B20 biodiesel parallel plug-in hybrid, as well as the lowest well-to-wheel greenhouse gas emissions. | Photo courtesy of EcoCAR 2.

The team from Penn State University placed third with their E85 series plug-in hybrid. Pictured here members of the team poise with their car at GM's Milford Proving Grounds in Michigan. | Photo courtesy of EcoCAR 2.