Students to build solar electric hybrid car

Tuesday, 24 April 2007

Thirteen final-year mechanical and electrical engineering students at the University of Adelaide are launching their plans to design and build a hybrid solar-electric car.

The vehicle will incorporate a revolutionary 'skateboard' chassis for improved handling, safety and design flexibility, says the project team's Managing Director, final-year student Aaron Russell.

"At the moment a commercially viable solar-electric hybrid vehicle doesn't exist," Aaron said. "But as fuel costs rise and public awareness of environmental issues grows, solar power and electricity become increasingly viable.

"Our overall project aim is to design and build a commercially viable hybrid vehicle. We think our manufacturing method combined with the latest technology has the potential to lay the foundation for a real alternative to petroleum-based vehicles."

The student team will launch their project to motor vehicle and engineering industry representatives on Thursday, 26 April at 6pm in the Electrical Engineering Workshop, Ground Floor, Engineering North building at the North Terrace campus.

They are working under the supervision of Dr Colin Kestell, Senior Lecturer in the School of Mechanical Engineering and Dr Nesimi Ertugrul, Senior Lecturer in the School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering.

The students would like to hear from anyone interested in sponsoring their project. Please contact Aaron Russell on 0401 927 502 or Dean Caruso, 0401 021 585.

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