Engineering Projects/Electric Cars/Howard Community College/Fall2011/550 ekart

Electronic Sections Expected

Problem Statement

How can a team of three HCC students design and build an electric go-kart?

Team Members

CR

Jeffreycarllloyd

Summary

Weekly reports

Poster

EKART FRAME

Story

Made up of two members: Jeffrey Lloyd, and Carlos Riveros. The project ekart will be an attempt to design and build an all electric go-cart prototype to encourage further funding of this project. We want to do things first by creating this prototype e-kart with inexpensive and donated materials while staying within a $250.00 budget. After we have a tangible working product, we will showcase it to HCC to get further funding and probably start an intercollegiate competition among Maryland's community colleges.

Week One

Confused about project. Problem: What HCC allows and is willing to fund VS. What we as a team want to accomplish: an electric go kart.
Lots of research
Finding donations for project
Find pre-made go kart frame and buy it

Week Two

More research
Could not buy inexpensive frame, therefore we had to build one from scratch
Ekart frame design and construction
DC motor mounting ideas

Week Three

More research.
Bought speed controller and 3-way potentiometer.
Bought inexpensive frame from private vendor.
Modified bought frame for our project's needs.

Week Four

Finished ekart presentation
Tested ekart's frame and steering by using a 0.5HP fan motor.
Ordered battery cables, plugs and fuses for ESC system.
Tested the motor

After four weeks of research and hard work, we were able to get a test-run of the ekart using a 0.5HP DC fan motor: 1ST TEST-RUN

Decision List

After the previous team's attempt to build an electric car, this new ekart team has decided to build an electric go-kart.
Searched for donations of parts and tools.
Decided to create a powerpoint presentation to obtain approval for this project.
Decided to test the donated motors.
Decided to buy frame and modify it.

Materials List

Steel tubes (1" and 1.5" diameter) -- DONATED
MIG welder -- BORROWED
Plastic chair seat -- DONATED
Two 6V lead-acid batteries -- DONATED
Two 12V lead-acid batteries -- DONATED
Programmable 200A 48V Kelly ESC -- BOUGHT FOR $120.00
10" go kart wheels -- DONATED
Used go kart frame without motor -- BOUGHT FOR $60.00
Battery cable 48V -- DONATED
3-way potentiometer (throttle pedal) -- BOUGHT FOR $30.00

Software List

Web Browser (Online Research)

Microsoft's Power Point 2010

Microsoft's Excel 2010

Autodesk 123D for go-kart design

Google Sketch Up

Prezi presentation aid

Time

Week 0: Each student spent an average of 6.5 hours doing research and coordinating existing materials.
Week 1: Each student spent an average of 7.2 hours creating a presentation, testing the electric motor, and performing research on individual parts.
Week 2: Each student spent an average of 7.3 hours designing key components and testing existing equipment for compatibility.
Week 3: Each student spent an average of 6.2 hours working on ekart's frame and handling components (steering and braking system).
Week 4: Each student spent an average of 5.7 hours working on ekart's motor and electrical components.
TOTAL TIME: 32.9 HOURS

Tutorials

Our inspiration: "The Neurotikart"

Research links:

http://www.kartbuilding.net/

http://auto.howstuffworks.com/electric-car2.htm

http://electronics.howstuffworks.com/motor.htm

Next Steps

Create an effective electrical system for the ekart. Test ekart and present finished product to HCC to get funding for a better and faster version.