During the 2010/2011 academic year, three Mechanical Engineering seniors, and three Electrical/Computer Engineering seniors built the first TCNJ Electrathon Vehicle specifically for the Solar Class. This group won first place in the Solar Division at the Connecticut Electrathon Challenge held at Lime Rock Park and sponsored by Central Connecticut State University and their Department of Technological Studies.
Standing from the left: Zach Esh, frame design and fabrication; Kyle Wilson, telemetry & instrumentation; Joe McCarty, motor & motor controller (design and fabrication); Justin (Maxx) Binger, project leader & solar power system; Hunter Carson, fairing and braking; Dr. Norm Asper, Professor Emeritus, secondary mechanical advisor. Kneeling from the left: Dr. Karen Yan, assistant professor, primary mechanical advisor; Jon Saia, steering & suspension. Not pictured: Dr. Anthony Deese, assistant professor, primary electrical advisor.
According to the ELECTRATHON AMERICA website which creates the official regulations for these types of events “ELECTRATHON is a type of ELECTRIC MARATHON in which the winner is determined by how far you go in a certain time with a given amount of battery power. ELECTRATHON AMERICA class competition uses specific design rules to ensure safe and fair competition. ELECTRATHON AMERICA events are held around the country and is an exciting new environmentally progressive sport.”
The stated goals were:
- To drive electrically powered vehicles as far as possible for one hour on a closed loop course using limited electrical energy.
- To provide a forum where skill and ingenuity may be displayed, compared and tested.
- To improve public awareness and understanding of efficient alternative electric vehicles.
- To create an affordable sport defined by established rules in which groups and Individuals can participate competitively and safely.
TCNJ designed their vehicle in Pro/Engineer and loaded into Fluent to analyze aerodynamic drag. Its design materials were sheet aluminum body panels with polycarbonate windshield and side windows. There were a lot of steps involved in completing the vehicle which will not be relayed here. Luckily Dr. Norman Asper wrote an excellent article in which he described the process in detail.
At the competition TCNJ’s The NJ011 car completed 47 laps and won first place in the Solar Division. Justin (Maxx) Binger describes the effort as “using less power than the average hair dryer with an equivalent energy consumption of 807 miles per gallon*! (*One US gallon of gasoline contains an average of 36.6 kWh of energy.)
According to Dr. Asper “This has been a great learning experience, and a great basis for future Electrathon projects, not only in The College of New Jersey’s School of Engineering, but also extended out into area high school technology programs.
Learn more:
- Connecticut Electrathon Challenge
- ELECTRATHON AMERICA website
- Dr Asper’s detailed description of Electrathon (with pictures)