ODSS Electric Car Build Part 4

        This is a picture of the steering system we're using on the car. The wheels are turned not by a steering wheel, but by two handles that are pushed in and out. This is easier, quicker, and it takes up less space. Once this is completed we can bolt the steering assembly down, and begin building the brake systems.

ODSS Electric Car Build Part 3

        Progress on the car is continuing, albeit at a slow rate.  The cage that protects the driver's legs and the batteries has been built, and one of the other team members is building the rear frame section, that will house the mounts for the rear wheel, motor, roll bar, and seat supports. While that is built, I'm working on the steering system up front. To minimize space, the steering will be done with two push rods instead of the conventional steering wheel. This is a much simpler system, which means it can be built much quicker. 

        The car will have a new motor, motor controller and battery monitor thanks to $1500 dollars that I've raised from several local sponsors, in return for ad placement on the body of the car. I calculated that we need $1500 because all together, the motor, motor controller and battery monitor cost around $1400. The car is split up into 5 ads that were soold to the sponsors. The motor is a MARSX, and it was specifically designed for small vehicle applications. The motor controller allows us to use a variable throttle on our car, while the battery monitor tells us important statistics, like how many amps the batteries have left, how much we're currently drawing, etc.

ODSS Electric Car build Part 2

        Work on the electric car is coming along at a steady pace. So far we've bolted on the sheet metal floor, as well as supports for the seat and batteries. We're also working on building two trapezoidal struts that will make up the top of the car's body. Once that is done, we'll build the arms that will hold the wheels, the roll bar, and the motor mounts for the back end.

ODSS Electric Car Build Part 1

         For the next couple of months, I will be documenting the progress of the ODSS electric car team as we build a new car. Our goal is to go from the simple frame that we have now, to a fully built car by the May 24 weekend, the date of the competition. 

          So far, we took an old aluminum frame that we had from a previous car, and trimmed off several pieces of it to give us a nice simple chassis to build off of. The plan for this car is to have a simple set-up, but with as little wasted space as possible. This was one of the main drawbacks of our previous cars.

        After the chassis was modified, we cut out a panel of sheet metal for the floor. We haven't used sheet metal as a floor before, but this time we're trying it instead of plywood to help conserve weight. This will also help if we drive in wet conditions, as plywood would act like a sponge, soaking up water and adding massive weight to the car. 

ODSS Electric Car Team

     For the previous years at my school, I have taken part in the electric car team. The purpose of the team is to design and build efficient electrical race cars. Generally, each year we revamp or scrap one of the older cars we have, and build a new car, with improved and refined technology. 

      Near the end of the school year, there are several competitions that allow us to compete with other high schools. There are 2 events that take place: the 12 volt race, and the 24 volt race. In the 12 volt, each car must draw power from a single 12 volt car battery, and complete as many laps as possible within one hour. The car that completes the most laps wins. In the 24 volt, each car is powered by 2 car batteries, and as such, the cars have plenty more power and lifetime, making a skilled driver much more important. Speeds in the 24 volt can reach up to 70km/h. In 2010, 11 schools from eight different school boards visited ODSS for this year’s annual electric car competition, which will test the distance traveled by each vehicle in 12-volt and 24-volt competitions. In 2009, Mr.Weishar, our teacher and team leader said the 24-volt winning car covered 38 kilometers in an hour while the 12-volt winning car traveled about 31 clicks.

       In this picture here, from 2010, you can see 3 of the cars built by our team. In the front, number 64, is one of the older models we have. It has a Styrofoam and fiberglass body and focused on maximum aerodynamics. That car is currently being revamped to more advanced standards this year. The next car, in the middle of the shot, number 21, was a successful experiment, in that we made the car as small and as agile as possible. The steering control was the same as an ATV, as in a handlebar that gave the driver more leverage than a steering wheel. That car has done quite well in competitions, all though it has the tendency to roll over at high speeds. Finally(and in the picture below), in the very back is the car we affectionately named 'The Tank'. The idea behind it was to have a heavier body, with a much stronger motor. We found it to be quite troublesome to build, quite hard to control, and overall severely sluggish. as such, it was scrapped for parts at the end of that year. The car that was built in 2011 is of course not shown here, but I'll mention it anyways. It uses a very smart boost power system, where a smaller motor powers the car around turns and other situations that call for agility, but on straightaways, the driver activates a much larger motor for a very powerful speed boost. So far, it has placed fairly high in the competitions it raced in. 

The Team was featured in the local paper during

 the 2010 competition that took place in Orangeville

       Overall, I have highly enjoyed being part of the team, and have learned quite a lot about design and innovation from it. It has given me a large understanding about the design process, and taught me skills that I will be able to carry with me throughout my life.