Voltaic Electric Vehicle Drive Train Takes First Place at UW Environmental Innovation Challenge
The grand prize went to a project developed by UW undergraduate engineers who invented an electric vehicle drive train that converts any car from gas to electric power. Voltaic created an electric vehicle modular drive train that can replace drive trains of gas-powered engines in existing models. The electric module can be customized to fit inside any car and the team displayed a Honda outfitted with its prototype electric engine to show how it powers the car. The company’s president is Trevor Crain, a senior in mechanical engineering at UW. Vivek Gowri, the automotive specialist, is also a senior in Mechanical Engineering. Kerwin Loukusa, a senior in electrical engineering, is the director of electronics.
The $10,000 grand prize was sponsored by the UW Center for Commercialization (C4C). Rick LeFaivre, Director of the New Ventures unit at C4C was impressed by the “great turnout of student projects, with a number from UW.”
About the University of Washington Environmental Innovation Challenge
Interdisciplinary student teams define a cleantech problem, design and develop the solution, and produce both a prototype (proof of concept/computer simulation) and business summary that demonstrates the market opportunity. Teams are judged—by Seattle-area experts, entrepreneurs, and cleantech investors—on their prototypes, pitches and business summaries, plus the potential impact of their innovation. Ideas should aim to reduce environmental impacts, improve ecological sustainability, conserve resources and compete in the marketplace.