EcoHawks Team Calendar

Latest Updates

To contribute to the EcoHawks success please click here

Shirts are now available!

 

· (11/16/09) New pictures, blog entries, sponsors added and new link up

· (11/09/09) New pictures, blog entries, R/C Car information and shirts are on their way

· (11/06/09) KACEE Presentation added (link) and sponsors updated

· (11/02/09) New pictures added, blog entries updated and more sponsors on-board

· (10/26/09) New pictures added, blog entries updated and KU EcoHawks win an award!

· (10/19/09) Blog entries updated and three new links added (link 1, link 2, link 3)

· (10/13/09) Blog entries updated

· (10/09/09) New link added from autobloggreen

· (10/07/09) New sponsors and R/C Car information added

The University of Kansas

School of Engineering Design Project

A Sustainable Approach to Automobiles and Energy Infrastructure

A Message from Professor Chris Depcik

             Welcome to the virtual home of the KU EcoHawks.  This website is intended to give you a glimpse into our efforts in building a 500 mile per gallon vehicle.  I know what you are thinking, is 500 miles per gallon even feasible?  We believe it is and by continually striving to improve our designs and our engineering knowledge we hope to achieve it. 
             In our first year, 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.  Overall, theoretical calculations illustrate a maximum speed of 45 miles per hour while achieving over 50 miles per gallon...not too bad for a vehicle destined for the scrap heap.
             Our plans for this upcoming academic year are to continue to explore technology on both large and small scales.  The goal for the Super Beetle is to get it road ready and inspected by the state of Kansas so that the students can begin taking data to validate our theoretical calculations.  One of my primary objectives for this program is to ensure the students are working on a practical design that the average consumer would consider driving.  In addition, students will begin implementing a solar energy refilling station along with making the vehicle a plug-in hybrid to increase its mpg while making it more suited for the public.  This work will help ensure that KU engineering students are learning the tools to help go out and lead renewable and alternative energy companies. 
             Perhaps even more exciting is the implementation of small scale RC car testing into the program.  Teams of EcoHawks will design and build 1/8^th scale vehicles in order to explore battery, motor and material technology.  This will allow students to test the limits of advanced battery and even superconductor technology to find out what is possible.  They can explore all different types of fabrication materials and techniques while also giving them the freedom to design any style of vehicle they feel appropriate.  This work will lead into a thorough understanding of the theory behind advanced vehicles that will be applied to a future effort of building a vehicle from scratch where we can optimize for miles per gallon.  I envision an end result of this small scale design competition is to have a “Race with the EcoHawks” day where K-12 students can come out and race their vehicles against those designed by KU engineering students. 
             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 the end of year race day.  KU students in all disciplines are welcome to volunteer on both the small or large scale approach.  Stay tuned as we envision great things here at KU!

Sincerely,
Dr. D

 

The EcoHawks have just published their first year efforts at a technical conference!  Please click on the following link to download their paper: IMECE2009-10247.pdf

 

Contact Information

EcoHawks Email: kuecohawks@ku.edu

 

Faculty Advisor

Dr. Chris Depcik

Assistant Professor

University of Kansas

Mechanical Engineering Department

depcik@ku.edu

Ph: (785) 864-4151

Fax: (785) 864-5254

3120 Learned Hall

1530 W. 15th St

Lawrence, KS 66045-7609

2009-2010 KU EcoHawks

(Back row) Cody Moore, Saleh Alamoudi, John Cover, Chris Jaggers, Andy Bieger, Brian Paddock, Dr. D, Calvin Morris, David McNally, Joseph McCracken, Kyle Combes, Chris Billinger, Miles Detrixhe

(Front row) Travis Schneweis, Austin Hausmann, Melanie Gray, Becky Dellwig, Sarah Gelvin, Jessica Lamb, Michael Powell, Ben Engelbrecht, Alfonso Bortone, Brandon Hursh

Not Pictured: Christian Altic, Drew Beougher, Luke Harmon, Michael Kuchinski, Robert Low, Amber Markey, Thomas Prinsen, Will Pro, Michael Rollins, Bryan Strecker