University's energy-efficient vehicles to be featured in Homecoming parade
Modified by automotive engineering technology students
2009-10-02
Minnesota State University, Mankato Media Relations Office news release [10/2/2009]
Energy-efficient vehicles modified as hybrids and plug-ins by Minnesota State Mankato automotive engineering technology students will be featured in the university’s homecoming parade Saturday, Oct. 3.
“The companies these students will be working for are working with these emerging technologies, so this exploratory research will be valuable in the students’ future careers,” said automotive engineering professor Bruce Jones.
In the last two years students have enhanced the capabilities of several vehicles. Among those that Saturday’s parade-watchers may see:
- Toyota Prius hybrid: Two years ago, senior design students installed a second battery pack, giving the car twice the electric power, and modified it with an electric plug-in (Priuses are not factory equipped as plug-in hybrids). The students also added a portable battery charger and a sensor package that records data while the car is in operation.
- Diesel SmartCar: Last year Jones received permission from the Environmental Protection Agency to bring a diesel-powered SmartCar from Canada (diesel versions weren’t available in the United States at the time). Graduate and undergraduate students ran emissions tests on the car, and this year’s seniors are converting it to a hybrid, adding an electric motor.
- R-Ride electric utility vehicle: To increase the Princeton, Minn.,-manufactured vehicle’s battery life, students are replacing its lead-acid battery pack with lithium ion batteries, and are affixing photovoltaic solar cells and an ethanol-fueled generator.
- Ford Escape hybrid: Students are adding data-acquisition systems to the Escape, owned by the Minnesota Department of Transportation. MnDOT will use the information to assess their fleet.
- SAE cars: As in previous years, automotive students will go to Michigan this spring to take part in the Formula SAE competition. Students have planned, designed and built a Formula SAE car and an SAE Baja off-road dune buggy. Many features of the cars incorporate alternative energy.
The automotive engineering technology parade cars will provide transportation for Minnesota State Mankato’s provost, vice presidents and other administrators. The parade starts at noon Saturday at the intersection of Maywood and Ellis; a map of the route is at http://www.mnsu.edu/homecoming/parade/index.html.
Minnesota State Mankato, a comprehensive, doctoral university with 14,800 students and two satellite sites, is part of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system, which comprises 32 institutions across the state.
Email this article | Permanent link | Topstories news | Topstories news archives
