The Design of Alternative Energy Vehicles

Students of the Designing Minds class who study Alternative Vehicular Design as a concentration spend the year tirelessly designing components for vehicles of the future. One of the tasks for this group is to design the next year's electrathon car the Alternative Energy Vehicular Design class to build. We design and help construct the autocross version of the electrathon car. Connecticut's Electrathon Challenge in on the Skip Barber Autocross track at Lime Rock Park. This track has five turns and two hills to conquer. To prepare for the event, the students have to digitize components and catalogue parts to more quickly swap motors, tires, controllers, battery configurations. As researchers these student attend the Lime Rock races an gather crucial data on our and our competitor's cars as they compete. This data is used in the design process to create a more efficient vehicle which runs faster and longer on less energy. Visit these students at our web page by clicking on the links or see the process of making these cars by clicking on The Process link in the green bar.

AEVD

Designs

The Process

Two year design cooperations.

The Program

An Authentic Assessment model program

Designing Minds

The design program linked here.

More Designs

Broken Arrow

Aluminum and carbon fiber

Blue Thunder

Totally Carbon fiber running an Etek motor

Little Bear

Inspire by the Bugatti

Mohegan

The central rudder increases air flow and cuts resistance.

Gumdrop

Working with translucent body design.