Engineering Projects/Electric Cars/Howard Community College/Fall2011/550 ekart v.2

Electronic Sections Expected edit

Problem Statement edit

How can we develop an efficient electrical system for the ekart?

Team Members edit

CR
PA

Summary edit

Weekly reports

Poster edit

 
ekart

Story edit

In this project we continued working on the electric cars project for a second time. We were hoping to complete a working product to be able to showcase it at HCC, but we were unable for multiple reasons. Overall, this project was fun because it was challenging and very didactic. Even though, the 2nd and faster version of the ekart was not completed in time, we hope to ignite interest on projects of this kind to future ENES100 students.

Week One edit

  • Received ESC from Kelly Controllers.
  • Began work on ESC system for ekart.
  • Tested 1.6HP DC motor.

Week Two edit

  • Continued work on ESC circuitry.
  • Mounted motor to ekart.
  • Attached motor to modified drive-train.
  • Mounted batteries on ekart.

Week Three edit

  • Connected final components of ESC circuit.
  • Set up a 36V power source.

Week Four edit

  • Completed ESC circuit and tested it.
  • Programmed ESC.

Decision List edit

  • Decided to sacrifice weight in order to get power (from 12V to 36V).
  • Decided to purchase programming interface to program ESC and achieve the best performance.
  • Decided to eliminate reversing to lower the difficulty of assembling the ESC circuit + costs.
  • Decided to paint ekart with black spray paint.

Material List edit

Google Docs link

Software List edit

  • Web browser (researching purposes)
  • Autodesk 123D for go-kart design
  • Google Sketch Up
  • Kelly controllers programming software

Time edit

Average of 5 hours every week for a total of 25 hours (including week zero).

Tutorials edit

Tutorial Presentation

Next Steps edit

  • Get more funding for a high-end ekart with excellent materials.
  • Get large support from HCC and encourage intercollegiate ekart competitions.