Electric Transport
Project Statement Final Proposal   Final Report  Group Members  Acknowledgements  Work Log  Pictures	Project Statement   Statement of Need:           With the rising cost of oil and the fact that this is not a renewable resource, it is very important that alternatives to the internal combustion engine start to be explored.  It is likely that at some point in the near future, the average person will not be able to afford to drive a vehicle which is dependent on fossil fuels.  These vehicles will become a luxury.  One possible alternative is a vehicle powered by electricity.       Our premise is that an electric vehicle can be a viable alternative to the gas powered vehicles we use today.  We would like to demonstrate that, with proper design, electric vehicles can meet or exceed society’s basic transportation needs with much less negative environmental impact than existing fossil fuel vehicles.  In this particular project, we have decided to create a prototype of an electric truck rather than a passenger car.  Because many trucks used for transporting goods have standard routes, an electric truck could be a realistic option.  The distance the vehicle would be required to travel is known, so preparations could be made to ensure that an electric vehicle would be a reliable means of transport.  This is the main idea behind our project.   Preliminary Requirements:        Our project is to build a vehicle that is driven using electric motor(s) rather than an internal combustion engine.  This vehicle will be powered by batteries which could be charged using solar power.  Our prototype will be a vehicle that will be used as a utility vehicle similar to a truck or van rather than a sports car.        We will build a functioning prototype of this vehicle.  Our vehicle will use electricity for power and will not have a dual fossil fuel/electric drive train like hybrid vehicles.  It will be necessary for us to experiment with different types of batteries and motors to engineer vehicle performance.  Also, we may try using different materials for the vehicles frame in order to minimize weight while maximizing stability.  Furthermore, it would be possible to try different methods of charging the batteries such as solar power and regenerative braking.   Basic Limitations:         One major limitation to this project is the budget limitations we face.  We are currently limited to existing parts or donations.  Although some materials will be provided free of charge it will be challenging to build an electric vehicle on a tight budget.  Also, due to time limitations we will construct a scale model of the proposed vehicle rather than a full size truck.    Questions: What materials are currently available for our use without purchasing them? What type of electric motor is best used for this application? What type of battery will meet our needs? What type of circuitry will be used to control the vehicle?