Student engineers have been proving that the future for the motoring industry can still be bright by displaying their vehicle architectures for the EcoCar challenge at the Washington Auto Show.

EcoCar has been sponsored by the US Department of Energy and General Motors along with the California Air Resources Board, the Government of Canada and other government and industry leaders. It is a three-year competition that gives engineering students the chance to design and build advanced vehicles with cutting edge automotive technologies.

Students have been encouraged to explore technologies including hybrid, plug-in hybrid, electric, fuel cell and extended range vehicles. Though each design is unique all of the vehicles must have plug-in capabilities; they must use a renewable energy source; they must retain safety and performance characteristics; and they must lithium-ion battery technology.

Of the 17 teams participating in the challenge, eight produced extended range vehicles; six chose plug-in hybrid electric vehicles; one chose a full function electric vehicle; and two chose fuel cell plug-in hybrid electric vehicles.

At the end of the competition, the vehicles will be judged on criteria including environmental impact, fuel consumption, consumer appeal, safety and quality of workmanship.