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Team Redline Many misconceptions with electric vehicles deal with a lack of power and speed. There are a few examples that attempt to break down these barriers, but they are very costly alternatives. The team members of the Redline EcoHawks are striving to build a hyper efficient car while keeping the production price as low as possible. While our ultimate goal is high speed, many of the same concepts apply to distance per charge and mile per gallon equivalents. By creating a car that is lightweight, aerodynamic, and dynamically efficient, a simple battery and gear change will take us from a very fast vehicle to a vehicle that is extremely energy efficient. For full size hybrid and electric vehicles to have a better chance at replacing traditional fuel dependent vehicles, they must first become more appealing to the everyday consumer. The ultimate goal of the Redline EcoHawks is to apply engineering principles and a careful design analysis to create a cost effective 1/8th scale electric vehicle capable of better performance than its internal combustion counterparts
Team Slayer
Team CellMates Team CellMates goal is to build a hydrogen fuel cell powered vehicle utilizing the most practical fuel cell technology available. We have chosen hydrogen fuel cell power in order to demonstrate it's application as a completely "green" fuel from start to finish. While the fuel cell itself is inherently clean, team CellMates will also take sustainability into consideration when producing our own hydrogen from a a renewable source, the sun, as opposed to the current fossil fuel defendant methods. We will also address problems associated with fuel cells such as price and weight by pairing a smaller fuel cell with a more efficient engine and by utilizing a metal hydride storage system, respectively. We will be modeling our vehicle as a mass transit vehicle in order to simulate a smoother transition into a hydrogen economy. Ultimately, we wish to analyze hydrogen fuel cells as a potential facet of a sustainable economy by studying them on a smaller, more economically friendly level. Team Website: http://sites.google.com/site/kucellmates/home
Team Amp One thing Team AMP looked at when considering sustainability was appeal. We wanted to make a sustainable car that would have mass appeal and therefore a greater impact on the market. Let’s face it, not everyone wants to drive a Prius. Our goal is to build an electric luxury sedan at a more affordable price while striking a balance between performance and efficiency. One thing we’re pursuing is a space frame chassis. The Audi A8 has an aluminum space frame chassis and reported that it was 40% lighter yet 40% stiffer than a steel equivalent. By making the car lighter, we’re increasing the amount of power coming out and actually increasing the safety of the vehicle. We’re planning on creating a plug in EV. We want to place the charger on board so that the car can plug into a wall socket. We want to make it AC and DC compatible. We’re planning on using Lithium Iron Phosphate batteries. These have a lower environmental impact than their cobalt counterpart, and also have a longer cycle and calendar life. They also have the potential to charge faster without thermal runaway, and charging time is major concern with EV’s today. Ultimately, we’re looking at making a “fun to drive” plug in while keeping the cost relatively low. Team Website: http://sites.google.com/site/ecohawksteamamp/home
Team Electric Slide Team Electric Slide has designed a plug-in electric RC car capable of running for around 36 miles modeling a full scale electric vehicle that will cost around $22,000. The focus has been to develop and implement sustainable technology into an RC car modeled after a full scale, affordable electric vehicle. The average family in The United States simply cannot afford one of the $40 to $50,000 electric or hybrid vehicles currently on the market. We as a team believe that if sustainability is going to be a plausible future, it first needs to become affordable. The components utilized have been chosen to optimize their cost and performance according to their effect on producing an affordable and marketable electric vehicle. A zero emission solar fueling station is being designed for the electric vehicle to increase the car’s sustainability. This eco-friendly and abundant energy source will help to make this electric vehicle a viable and sustainable option for the future American consumer.
Team CranoFran Team CranoFran is designing a purely electric vehicle in the mid-size sedan class and will incorporate all aspects of sustainability. We have chosen to design an electric vehicle that will utilize a solar charging station to charge the lightweight and highly efficient lithium ion batteries. The combination of a purely electric vehicle with solar energy results in a nearly carbon neutral vehicle. In order to maximize the distance per charge of the vehicle, multiple batteries must be used. To reduce the overall weight of the vehicle, a lightweight, and conductive metal will be used in the chassis design. The suspension, steering and tires will be designed to optimize both handling for consumer safety and comfort as well as efficiency. With the technology of the car headed in a new direction, we will make this visually apparent by adding subtle futuristic aspects in the body. This will allow for typically unconventional methods for reducing drag and therefore increasing the efficiency of the vehicle. Team Website: https://sites.google.com/site/kuteamcranofran/ |
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R/C Car Focus |
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The University of Kansas School of Engineering Design Project A Sustainable Approach to Automobiles and Energy Infrastructure |
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