President Obama Visits CAR

By Holly Henley and Nancy Richison

As if college students don't have enough pressure what with studying and assuring Mom and Dad that they're eating right and keeping their grades up. Imagine what it would be like if the President of the United States stopped by to have a peek at their latest engineering project. After all, it's his job to make sure the country is on the right track when it comes to alternative energy research and engineering.

In late March, President Barack Obama delivered a speech on American energy to students and faculty at The Ohio State University Recreation & Physical Activity Center (RPAC), where he was introduced by Vijay Gadepally, PhD candidate in electrical and computer engineering and president of Ohio State's Council of Graduate Students.

But before that speech, the president paid a visit to the Center for Automotive Research (CAR) for a private tour with the Formula SAE - a student design competition organized by the Society of Automotive Engineers, Buckeye Electric Motorcycle Race, EcoCAR and Buckeye Bullet teams. "Looks like your guys are building some speed here," the president said as the students explained the process of designing and building vehicles utilizing lightweight structures as one way to decrease weight and increase speed. Students challenged Obama to try to bend a piece of their newly manufactured carbon fiber car body to test its strength. The president politely declined, saying he would take their word for it.

Sarah Jadwin, EcoCAR outreach coordinator, filled him in on the process and purpose of re-engineering a vehicle to meet emissions standards and consumer acceptability. EcoCAR,a fuel-efficient student project, placed second in an international competition held last year. Students on the team also explained advances being made in biofuel development, clean coal technology and solar research.

The president also was treated to the history of electric vehicle racing at CAR, including The Ohio State University's pride and joy:  the Buckeye Bullet. The Buckeye Bullet holds the land-speed record for a battery-powered electric vehicle - more than 307 miles per hour. "Who drives this? Because I don't think mom and dad would like you driving that," Obama said.

Bullet team leader David Cooke showed examples of the transition of batteries from lead acid of the early 1990s to lithium-ion batteries used today.