As one of Missouri University of Science and Technology’s (Missouri S&T) sustainable energy initiatives, students are designing a hydrogen vehicle for EcoCAR: The Next Challenge, a three-year collegiate competition established by the DOE and GM. Missouri S&T is one of sixteen universities across North America to participate in the competition, which focuses on the development of advanced vehicle technology. The Challenge provides the opportunity for students and faculty to collaborate in order to reduce automotive energy use and environmental impacts.
While stressing the possibilities of emerging technologies, Missouri S&T stands as the only U.S. team employing a hydrogen fuel cell and lithium-ion batteries in their vehicle design. Having a unique stance in this premier competition, Missouri S&T and team sponsors have gained the attention of industry leaders. With this opportunity, Missouri S&T is working to expand the awareness of hydrogen as clean and sustainable energy.
The Missouri S&T EcoCAR team always seeks new opportunities for partnership in hydrogen energy and vehicle technology. For more information about the team visit http://ecocarchallenge.mst.edu/ or feel free to contact david.lecko@mst.edu.
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March 3, 2010 @ 11:48 pm
Philip Block says...
If the team really wants to be in the 21th century, throw out those 20th century batteries and use ultracapacitors. Less weight, less heat problems, less mounting problems, less location problems, less specialized charging problems, easier to recycle, less battery monitoring electronics, less detoration over time, and not least, safer. Check with Intel. They are exploring nanoscale power storage and may be interested in working with you (EE Times ). My 50 years of advocating Fuel Cells is with you. The best of luck.
April 6, 2010 @ 1:13 am
Charles Xavier says...
For the nano scale, ultra capacitors may be most effective. However, for the power consumption of a daily driver eco-friendly vehicle, lithium-ion batteries make sense. Lithium-ion batteries offer similar performance for a lower cost than ultra-capacitors. Notice how many of the emerging hybrid and purely electric vehicles (like the Volt) use lithium-ion batteries. Also, new battery technology allows for custom arrangements of small battery cells eliminating previous location and mounting problems.
April 7, 2010 @ 9:02 pm
Philip Block says...
Mr. Xavier, Evidently I did nopt make myself clear in my comment, so I will take it by the numbers:1. One of the typical problems of American (U.S.) consumers is the over consideration of price of an article. They will buy 2 cheap hammers for the price of a good one, break both and have none. With a high tech car, a few dollars more for an advanced technology is meaningless.2. Ultra capacitors have been and are being used in Fuel Cell units. Sooo–they have proven themselves. As usual, costs will come down via quantity.3.Evidently you have not had any experience with batteries (any type) except maybe reloading a flashlight. Rechargeables, any type, lose capacity upon every recharge. Caps., for all practical purposes, do not. Caps. can be mounted anywhere with little consideration for temp. problems. L-ion cannot. L-ion (as all rechargeables) take time and extreme care in discharging and recharging. Caps. can be charged faster and discharged to zero with NO deteration. L-ion cannot. Most electronic equipment capacitors far outlive ANY type of battery used with it. Power company pole capacitors last for many years in all kinds of weather and conditions.. Ask any power company engineer.3. Why are all? the companies using L-ion batteries? The answer is convoluted. Why do auto companies copy designs from each other to the point that they almost all look alike? Answer: monkey see-monkey do. Most of the engineers at the auto companies are not the best and the brightest-sooo– to keep their jobs–don’t make waves–don’t stick your neck out–tell them the truth and they will kill you.. Also, the marketing people (the hucksters) control the design and engineering of autos to keep the politicans off their backs (enviromentalists, etc.) and to satisfy a public that mostly buys on emotion and not practicablity.4.People are just about every persuasion have tried building an electric driven car (battery) for over a 100 years (Edison-about the first one) and flopped. Why? The Achilles heel–the rechargeable battery. The best of the rechargeables (probably L-ion) dosen’t have the watts/lb. to permit the design of an electric car that could meet todays standards for highway use. GM finally admitted that(if the engineers had done their homework it probably would not have been built to start with) and took it off the market. It is back for the reasons mention in no. 3. The only all electric driven 4 wheel platform that WILL be a success (eventually) and compete with the ICE is the Fuel Cell auto.5.Evidentally, you are NOT an engineer. So what? I am not a doctor (MD). I do not presume to make medical statements. New battery tech. has nothing to do (to any extent) with mounting. No matter where or how the batteries are mounted, wiring and cooling are a major headache and are basically the same for all cells. Something that everyone found out over the past 100 years. Because of the laws of physics, everyone found out that no matter what they did, they all wound up with the same results. 6. Finally, watch out for the con-artisists (the electric car industry is loaded with them). They are out to make a quick buck (stock sales) and most of them know that the battery driven car is a sham. You probably are going to ask why is the Gov’t giving so much money out to them? Politics, my boy, politics. Besides, it is YOUR money, not theirs.7.I am glad you showed an interest in EVs. I suggest you do some homework on the EV. The internet is full of great and endless info on EVs. Sooo-I hope my classroom lecture was interesting.