Latest Updates

 

NOTE:  WEBPAGES ARE BEING UPDATED

 

· 1-30-12: Pictures and updates.

· 1-23-12: Back to work and JimmE-V starting to look like a complete vehicle.

· 12-5-11: Last updates of the semester, a number of new pages are up.

· 11-21-11:  Getting ready for Turkey Day.

· 11-14-11: Midterm proposals returned as the students update their efforts.

· 11-7-11:  Updates and pictures as the semester rolls along.

· 10-31-11:  Midterm proposals have been submitted as indicated in the updates.

· 10-24-11:  Work is on-going, new sponsors and pictures.

· 10-17-11:  Movies of the JimmE-V stretching and work over the last two weeks.

· 10-3-11:  Starting the month strong with...more updates!

· 9-26-11:  Updates and new pictures.

 

To contribute to the EcoHawks success please click here

The University of Kansas

School of Engineering Design Project

A Sustainable Approach to Automobiles and Energy Infrastructure

A Message from Assistant Professor Chris Depcik

             Welcome to the virtual home of the KU EcoHawks.  This website is intended to give you a glimpse into our efforts regarding a sustainable approach to automobiles and the energy infrastructure.  This is all part of the students’ efforts to apply engineering techniques in order to solve real-world problems by approaching the situation from five vectors of success: education, energy, environment, economics and ethics.  Each of these concepts individually addresses specific aspects of sustainability, shaped by the confluence of the ideals of people, planet and prosperity.  It is through this multi-leveled application that the students will develop the means to face the challenges of a sustainable approach to automobiles and the energy infrastructure.  Eventually, we will design and build a full-sized vehicle from scratch; however, a phased approach was taken in order to properly build the fundamentals into the program while allowing for students to remain cognizant of their other responsibilities.

             In our first year (2008-2009), we were able to recycle a 1974 VW Super Beetle that had been sitting on a car lot for over two years and turn it into a series hybrid vehicle powered by lead-acid batteries and a diesel generator that runs on 100% biodiesel created from the used cooking oil on campus.   By eliminating the energy it takes to build a vehicle from scratch, we prevented the release of somewhere between three and 12 tons of CO₂ to the atmosphere.   In addition, since the fuel being used is green and environmentally friendly we are able to affect change locally in the carbon landscape. 
             In the second year (2009-2010), we were able to get the Super Beetle road-ready while adding the right components to make it a plug-in series hybrid electric vehicle.  The batteries on-board can be refilled using the 100% biodiesel generator (5 kW) , or we can plug it into any typical wall socket (120VAC, 20 A) that you would find in your house.  In addition, students built a solar energy filling station at our facility on campus consisting of six 180W panels that allows us to recharge the Beetle battery pack in 0.54 days (solar irradiance ~ 3.90 kWh/m²/day, panel efficiency ~ 16% results in 5.04 kWh per day available on a sunny day). 

             Moreover, students were able to explore advanced technologies on the small scale adding to the future capabilities of the project.  Teams of EcoHawks built 1/8^th scale Remote Control (RC) vehicles as their vision of a sustainable automotive future.  In just one year, students were able to merge theoretical and practical knowledge about NiMH/LiCoO₂/LiFePO₄ batteries, brushed/brushless electric motors, hydrogen fuel cells, metal hydride storage tanks, space frame chassis, biofuels and more!  The ability to learn and adapt on the small scale is personified by a parallel hybrid design that utilizes a small internal combustion engine running on the students’ own biodiesel blend and a brushless electric motor allowing for a doubling of torque.  The flexibility of the small scale allowed students to design and implement two versions of the powertrain in just one year.  In addition, students built their own solar panel to learn how it functions, while providing green energy to fill the battery packs of all of the RC cars.  Finally, this provides the perfect medium for engineering students to interact with K-16 students of varying levels.

             This use of the small scale allowed the students to submit and receive an EPA P³ grant at developing smart electrical grid capabilities in the third year (2010-2011).  The goal is to use the RC car scale to learn the theoretical concepts behind smart grids, while providing a test platform to experiment and develop the control algorithms.  The students traveled to Washington, D.C. to demonstrate the system and received an Honorable Mention in the competition.  On the large scale, the students began recycling an impounded GMC Jimmy into a modern Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV); i.e. the JimmE-V.  Students researched BEV components and installed a three-phase AC motor to be run off of LiFePO₄ batteries.  Moreover, students have remained cognizant of driver comfort by including heating and cooling of the cabin.  They are working with KU Libraries in order to build a vehicle to their specifications useful for their daily deliveries throughout campus.  It is our hope to continue to make the campus greener and more sustainable by helping foster BEV fleet usage.

             The fourth year has seen this program explode into a large number of interrelated projects.  The JimmE-V efforts are continuing while teams of students are building parallel hybrid go-karts as a step forward to building our own vehicle from scratch.  Solar thermal and solar parabolic heating systems are being created in order to learn about the technologies while providing heat to the EcoHawks barn.  Interdisciplinary efforts involve implementing a solar photovoltaic system to power algal biofuel research.  One team has taken on the adventurous route of building a prototype shrouded wind turbine system that powers a compressed air energy storage system intended to charge vehicle batteries.  All of these projects relate to a sustainable focus on energy infrastructure and transportation.  The more that we can learn (and do) reducing our dependency on foreign oil will not only help this generation but future generations.

             Please contact me below if you, your school or anyone you know is interested in working with the EcoHawks in a volunteer role or in conjunction with our K-16 efforts.  KU students in all disciplines are welcome to volunteer on both the small, medium or large scale approach.  Stay tuned as great things are happening here at KU!

 

Sincerely,
Dr. D

 

Contact Information

EcoHawks Email: kuecohawks at ku dot edu

 

Faculty Advisor

Dr. Chris Depcik

Assistant Professor

University of Kansas

Mechanical Engineering Department

3144C Learned Hall, 1530 W. 15th St

Lawrence, KS 66045-7609

Email: depcik at ku dot edu

Ph: (785) 864-4151

 

p.s.  We know the website is not fancy; however, as engineering students we are concentrating on the substance within these pages and continually updating it with new material as quickly as possible rather than making it flashy.  Keeping it basic allows all EcoHawks to contribute easily.

Large Scale Vehicles & Energy Infrastructure

 

EcoHawk I: 1974 VW Super Beetle converted to a plug-in series hybrid that can be recharged using a generator running on 100% used cooking oil biodiesel or from our solar energy filling station.

 

EcoHawk II:  GMC Jimmy being converted into a modern Electric Vehicle intended for use on campus delivering materials for KU Libraries with wind energy incorporation (In Progress).

 

* click on each car name for specifics about the vehicle, power plant and grid tie