Northern Arizona

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Efficient Vehicle

 

 

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Project Description

 

Executive Summary

 

The Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) holds a competition, known as the SAE Supermileage, once a year to produce a high efficiency vehicle. Our senior design team has chosen to compete in the SAE competition, and also submit it as our Senior Capstone Project. The goal for the 2008 seniors is not only to compete in the SAE Supermileage competition, but also to compete in Shell Eco-Marathon Americas. With these stipulated goals our key requirement will be to produce a high efficient vehicle that can compete in the two distinct competitions. “The Supermileage® competition provides engineering and technology students with a challenging design project that involves the development and construction of a single-person, highly fuel-efficient vehicle. Vehicles are powered by a small, four-cycle, single cylinder engine. Students have the opportunity to set a world fuel economy record and increase public awareness of fuel economy.”(13) Our team, “Team Efficient Vehicle”, consisting of five senior members; Michael Barton, Karl Busalacchi, Shane Stoterau, Tanya Gallagher and Sun Mahasuverchai, will design and construct a complete, competition ready, vehicle. Shell Eco-Marathon Americas will be held on April 10-13 at the California Motor Speedway in Fontana, California, while the SAE Supermileage competition will be held on June 5-6, 2008 in Marshall, Michigan. Most of the competition rules are very comparable making one vehicle feasible for both events. Senior Capstone is a two-part course lasting for one academic year making time scheduling imperative to the construction of a competitive vehicle for both events. During the Fall Semester the vehicle will be completely designed and fabrication begun. The Spring Semester will primarily be used to complete the fabrication and for testing.

 

Definition of Scope of Problem

 

Design, analyze, and construct a single-person, highly fuel-efficient vehicle using a single cylinder, four-cycle engine, while abiding by the safety rules set forth by SAE Supermileage and Shell Eco-Marathon Americas.  The vehicle will be built with a very limited budget provided by SAE@NAU and acquired sponsors and must be completed by April 9, 2008 in order to compete in Shell Eco-Marathon and June 5, 2008 to compete in SAE Supermileage.  A Faculty Advisor must also agree to attend each competition in order for our team to register at the competitions and compete.  To accomplish remarkable fuel-efficiency the vehicle will be as light-weight as possible, have very low aerodynamic drag, and have the least rolling resistance possible while still maintaining specified safety standards.  The following items and systems will have to be designed, analyzed, and built to complete the vehicle before competition:

·         Frame

·         Fuel management system

·         Fairing

·         Drive train

·         Engine modifications

·         Driver seating

·         Steering system

·         Braking system

·         Electrical system

For a complete set of rules and specifications please visit:

SAE Supermileage 2008 rules

Shell Eco-Marathon Americas rules