The first year of Hybrid competition is always the hardest, as everything has to be designed, made and tested. After that, the different areas of the vehicle can be worked on, to refine and improve them. The idea is to build on the past and learn from it.
Regardless of whether you are first time competitors, or coming back for another attempt, one of the areas which must be developed is the engine / vehicle performance. For a first time team, it involves developing the system. For an experienced team, assessing whether it performed as efficiently as expected, with the aim of working out why not and striving to better that. Arnie Vejins has compiled a special resource pack to assist
Some key areas to look at are:
– ENGINE EFFICIENCY
– ENGINE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
– EFFECTIVE SET-UP OF THE ENGINE
– EFFECTIVE USE OF THE ENGINE (DRIVING TECHNIQUE)
– VEHICLE EFFICIENCY
– ENGINE SELECTION and
– TESTING
Download the full Hybrid Information pack. (Word 57 kb)
Other resources are available on the Curriculum page.
The students at Staughton College hope to encourage and support other participants in the RACV Energy Breakthrough. In their second article, they continue motor testing in the search for engine efficiency – a key design consideration highlighted by Arnie Vejins. This report has been filed by Nick and Megan.
Hi Again,
We have finished the new fairing for 2006, and with testing on our test track on Saturday 25 March completed; we are about 5 seconds per lap quicker then 2005.
We have also completed tests on our 4 new motors
(A special thanks to GOLBAL TRADE IMPORTS for the new motors and new 18 amp batteries)
It looks like we might go for the 500 watt. This motor is 36 volt and its rpm is 3500. With the new gearing the HPV hit 58kph without pedalling. The only problem is recharging the batteries.
The charging system we used last year was a 100 watt solar panel charging a 12 volt 36 amp battery powering a 600 watt inverter to run 16 2 amp battery charger.
This was very good when we had sun, but as you all know it was not all that sunny.
So this year we have the same setup but we have added a small 100 watt motor to the same line as the solar panel to help charge the battery. (Thanks to HANSA PARTS for the inverter, chargers, cable, terminal)
The last thing is the new frame. We went from a 38mm main tube to 50mm, which is giving us better power transfer. (Thanks to MPC for all the steel and his time in drawing up our new frame on CAD)
If you would like more information, please call our team manager Mr Panczel on 0404 430 303
Thank you and best of luck to all teams going to EB06.
Nick and Megan
Staughton College
If you’d like to get your team’s story online, send a short article and/or photo to the Online Manager, his details are available through the Contact page.
Read the earlier student article from Staughton relating toFairing & Frame selection. Staughton College as first overall on the Hybrid trial in 2005.
