Engineering a Greener Future
A group of Lakehead University engineering students are taking what they have learned in the classroom and giving it an exciting real-world application, by designing and building a plug-in hybrid race car for international competition. Based on an existing competition that challenges college and university students to design, build and race a gas only high-performance car, the hybrid competition adds an extra challenge: fuel efficiency.
Still in its early stages, the Hybrid Car Project, is student-driven and gives participating students an exciting opportunity to become fully immersed in the creative adaptation of cutting-edge technology. “There are only three other Canadian universities that currently offer a hybrid car project opportunity”, says project coordinator Joe Ripku. “We are providing Lakehead students with an amazing experience”.
Once the hybrid car is complete, they hope to compete at the SAE Hybrid Competition taking place in New Hampshire, in May 2012. “Twenty-five teams competed in 2011, and with the increasing focus on sustainability that number can only continue to grow”, says Ripku. “We want to take this opportunity to focus the international spotlight on our talented students and the University”.
Through the summer, the team will be gathering resources and materials together to complete the car. “We need everything from lithium-ion batteries, to computer hardware and software for the intricate control system,” says Mauriac Partyka, an electrical engineering student entering his 4th year and founding member of the team. “Right now, we have some nuts and bolts and not much else”.
You can help to fuel the future now by visiting http://donate.lakeheadu.ca and making a contribution. Or phone 807-343-8910 to learn of other ways you can support the project.
For more information on the SAE Hybrid Car Project, contact Joe Ripku at 807-343-8494 or by emailing lakeheadu%23ca|joe%23ripku. Check out the team website here: http://hybrid.lakeheadu.ca/
