CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY ECO RACING

 

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Cambridge University Eco Racing (CUER) was created by a group of Cambridge students on exchange at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Inspired by the MIT Solar Electric Vehicle Team, they decided to form a similar Cambridge-based team in January of 2007. Excited by the idea, other students from Cambridge joined the team.


Cambridge University Eco Racing team logo CUER

 

 

In early 2007 the team received backing from the Cambridge University Engineering Dept (CUED). In dialogue with teaching staff, it was decided that major systems would be developed through fourth year projects. This was to allow the team to devote more time to development of the car, and to ensure continuity through to the next generation.

 

This Solar Electric Vehicle will be entirely designed and manufactured by students, aided financially and through the donations of materials and components by corporate sponsors.

 

CUED teaching staff were enthusiastic and came out to strongly support the team. With their backing, CUER was formed – a student initiative with the aim of building a Solar Electric Vehicle to compete in the 2009 World Solar Challenge.


Solar Car Racing


Drawing on expertise from the spectrum of engineering, such as Materials Science, Mechanics, Structural Design, Aerodynamics and Electronics, solar racing involves many challenges. Generally, these vehicles are designed and built by student-led teams from some of the world’s leading universities, using the expertise of faculty and industry to aid them. Currently, the two major races are the World Solar Challenge in Australia and the North American Solar Challenge, which are held in alternating years.

 

These races are cross country marathons on public roads; solar cars are capable of travelling at or above the speed limit, and have been known to pick up speeding fines!

 

Vehicles must be light and aerodynamic, while meeting the stringent safety requirements of both the race rules and local authorities. They must be robust enough to cover several thousand miles over roads which are not always in good condition, and do so entirely on power derived from the sun.


Anatomy of a Solar Electric Vehicle - Facts:


Average Race Speed: 60mph
Weight: 200kg
Array Power: 1500W
Motor Efficiency: 90+%
Drag Coefficient, CdA: 0.12

 

Aerodynamics - Power losses from aerodynamic drag account for 70% of all power lost at cruising speeds (about 60mph). Solar Electric Vehicles must therefore have a streamlined shape, with low frontal area to minimize this drag. Bodies are computer-modelled, optimised using Finite Element Analysis, and tested in wind tunnels before being manufactured from strong and light composites such as Kevlar and Carbon Fibre.

 

Chassis - Usually a steel tubular space frame or composite monocoque, to give a stiff, strong shape designed for safety at minimum weight. Race regulations specify crash requirements, driver seating postion and the use of a role bar for safety in the event of a crash.

 

Batteries - Li-Ion, Nickel Metal Hydride or Lead Acid batteries are commonly used, with each variety's capacity limited to approximately 5kWhr by race rules. Battery protection circuitry and ventilation ensure safe operation during a demanding race.

 

Array - Solar array area is limited by race rules to 6m2. Space-grade arrays of this size, made from rejected satellite solar cells, have around 1.5kW peak output power, at 100V, with an efficiency approaching 30%. Terrestial silicon cells, while cheaper, have an efficiency of roughly half that.

 

Drive - A three-wheeled configuration is common for Solar Electric Vehicles, with two wheels at the front, which steer, and a rear driving wheel. Brushless DC hub motors are often used because of their high efficiencies (above 90%). This also allows for regenerative braking which recovers energy that would otherwise be dissipated as heat in disc brakes.

 

Power Point Trackers - A solar array's output varies through the day depending on the position of the sun and cloud cover. Power point trackers optimize battery charging voltage to extract maximum power from the array at any conditions.

 

Tyres - Specially designed to give minimum rolling resistance, the second largest cause of power loss. As rolling resistance is a dependant on the weight of the vehicle, it is important to use light materials as much as possible.

 

Telemetry - Telemetry allows monitoring of vehicle performance and communication from driver to support vehicles. Race strategies vary depending on this data, with the aim being to make full use of available array power while conserving battery power.

 

 

THE CUER TEAM LEADER

 

Martin McBrien
Mechanical Engineering
dmm41@cam.ac.uk

 


Martin McBrien Cambridge University solar car team

 


Martin joined the MIT Solar Electric Vehicle Team in September 2006. Working alongside veterans of several solar races, he was able to learn a lot about how to build a successful solar car, and gained valuable experience working on various projects for the as-yet-unnamed solar bike the team is currently working on, including composite work, egress design and fundraising.

After deciding to start a Cambridge University team, he assembled a strong team of fellow exchange students, and has been working tirelessly towards the aim of having a working vehicle in June 2008, an ambitious but reachable target. His enthusiasm for this project has allowed him to bring a range of Professors on board as advisors, and he is already charming potential sponsors.

Martin is studying for an MEng in Mechanical Engineering, with an interest in aerodynamics as well. In his spare time, (rare these days!) he plays guitar, has an interest in photography, and plays a range of sports, including being captain of the Cambridge-MIT Exchange students' basketball team.


 


 

 

Why Sponsor CUED?

 

Exposure to bright, enthusiastic young engineers.

Major systems development is undertaken by fourth-year undergraduates as part of their final-year projects; students working on these projects gain early exposure to working on real engineering projects.

 

Promotion of sustainability and cultivation of a good public image.

With an infinite range and zero emissions, there is no more green mode of assisted transportation. Become a platinum or gold sponsor and your company will be associated with the team in all media coverage.

 

Have your name associated with a team competing in global events, gaining media attention across the world.

 

Become a Platinum, Gold or Silver Sponsor, and your logo will be seen by thousands of spectators as the car traverses the UK, North America and Australia, and by many more people through coverage in newspapers, online, and on television.

 

Help students to develop their skills working on a real-world design project.

Students will gain experience working as part of a team, meeting a deadline set by race dates, and operating within a set budget.

 

A unique marketing opportunity.

CUER is one of only two Solar Electric Vehicle Teams in the UK, and less than forty worldwide; Platinum sponsors will have the opportunity to hold a publicity event with the car and team.

 

 

Sponsor Privileges

 

 
PLATINUM GOLD SILVER BRONZE ADOPT-A-CELL

Donation (per yr)

Team Newsletter

Acknowledgement on website

Logo on website

Logo on uniforms

Logo on transportation

Logo on rear half of car

Logo on front half of car

Prominent display of logo on website

Publicity event with team

£20,000+

£10,000+

£5,000+

£1,000+

£50

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Contact Details


Head of Sponsorship sponsorship@cuer.co.uk
Captain: captain@cuer.co.uk

 

 


 

 

 

ORGANISATION A-Z

CAR'S NAME

TEAM NAME

Aristotle Uni of Thessaloniki, Helios

Helios

Faculty of Engineering

Arizona Solar Racing Team - USA

Arizona Solar Racing Team

Auburn University

Sol of Auburn

Sol of Auburn

Aurora Team, Australia

Aurora

Aurora Vehicle Association

Bochum Solar Car Team

Das SolarCar der Fachhochschule

California Poly S University

SLO Burn  Sidewinder

San Luis Obispo

Cambridge University

Eco Racing Team

Clarkson Uni Solar Car Team, USA

The Solar Knights

Delft University - Holland

NUNA I & II 2003

Dell Winston School

The Hunter

Solar Car Challenge

Desert Rose, Northern Territory Uni

FUJI DESERT ROSE

Drexel SunDragon Home Page

École de technologie supérieure Quebec

Eclipse V (5)

Éclipse Vehicular Solaire 

École Polytechnique de Montréal

Esteban

Eko-Auto  Poland

Eko-Auto

Electron Analytic Corporation

Dark Horse

EAC Skunkworks

George Washington University

George Washington Uni Solar Car

Georgia Institute of Technology

Solar Jackets

Solar Jackets

Heliodet, Germany

Heliodet

Heliodet, Solar Car Team

Helios - Lille, France

Hélios IV

Hautes Etudes d'Ingénieur

Honda Car Company

Honda

Illinois State University

Surya, Ratha, Mercury

Illinois State University Team

Iowa State University

Fusion

Team PrISUm

Jonasun  Japan

Orbit

Solar Car Paviion

Kansas State University

Paragon

Solar Car Racing Team

Los Altos Academy of Engineering

Los Altos Solar Car Team

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Tesseract

MIT

McGill University Monteal, Canada

iSun

Team iSun

McMaster University

Phoenix

McMaster Uni Solar Car Project

Messiah College Grantham, Penns

Genesis II

Genesis II Solar Racing Team

Michigan State University

 

Solar Racing Team

Michigan Technological University

Solar Car Team

Minnesota S Uni-Mankato/Winona S Uni

Minnesota Solar Car Team

North Dakota State University

The Double Deuce

Sunsetters - Solar Race Team

Northwestern University

N'Uvation

Northwestern University

Nuon Solar Team, Netherlands

Nuon 3

Het Nuon Solar Team

Osaka Sangyo University, Japan

OSU model S

Solar Car Team

Prairie View A&M University

Solaris

Sun Panthers

Principia College

RA 6

Principia College Solar Car Team

Purdue University

SPOT 2

Purdue University Solar Racing

Queen's University Canada

Radiance  Gemini

Queen's Solar Vehicle Team

Red River College 

Red River Raycer

Red River College Solar Car Team

Rice University

Rice University

Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology

Rose-Hulman Solar Car Team

Southern Illinois Uni Edwardsville

Cougar Cruiser

Southern Illinois University

South Bank University, UK

Mad Dog

South Bank Mad Dog Team

South Dakota School Mines & Tech

Solar Motion

South Dakota Solar Motion Team

Southern Taiwan University Tech

Southern Taiwan Solar Team

Stanford University

Solstice

Stanford Solar Car Project

Tamagawa University - Japan

Tamagawa Solar Challenge Project

Team Futura, Italy

FUTURA 2

Team Futura

Team SunLake - Japan

Phaethon model

Team SunLake TOYOBO

Texas A&M University

Columbia Sunraycer

Texas A&M Motorsports Team

The Power of One  - Toronto

Xof1

The Xof1 solar car team

Tufts University

ANNE E. B. II

Nerd Girls

University of Alberta

University of Alberta Team

University of Arizona

Drifter

Solar Racing Team

University of Calgary

 

UC Calgary Solar Car Team

University of California-Berkeley

CalSol 

California Calsol Team

University of Kansas

Solution, CATalyst

KSU Solar Car Racing Team

University of Kentucky

Gato del Sol II

Solar Car Team

University of Massachusetts 

Spirit of Mass 413

Lowell Solar Racing Team

University of Michigan

Momentum

University of Michigan

University of Minnesota

Borealis III

U of M Solar Vehicle Project

University of Missouri Columbia

Suntiger VI

The Mizzou Solar Car Project

University of Missouri Rolla

Solar Miner V

Solar Minor Car Team 

University of North Dakota

Subzero 3

Team SubZero

University of Ontario Institute of Tech

UOI Solar Vehicle Team

Uni of New South Wales SCR Team

UNSW Sunswift III

New South Wales SCR Team

University of Patras, Hermes

Solar Car Team

University of Pennsylvania

Keystone

Penn Solar Racing

University of Queensland

Sunshark

Queensland Solar Team

University of South Australia

Ned  KELLY

SA Solar Car Consortium

University of Texas at Austin

Solar Steer

Solar Vehicles Team

University of Texas at El Paso

 

Solraycers

University of Toronto

Blue Sky

Blue Sky Solar Racing

University of Toulouse

Heliotrope

Heliotrope Solar Car Team

University of Utah 

 

Vehicle Design Team Utah

University of Virginia

 

UVa Solar Car Team

University of Waterloo

Midnight Sun VIII

Midnight Sun Solar Race Team

University of Western Ontario

Sunstang

Sunstang USP Solar Car Team

USP Solar Car Team

USP Solar Car Team

Western Michigan University

Sunseeker 05

W Michigan Solar Car Team

Yale University

The John Lee

Team Lux

 

 

 

IF YOUR TEAM OR EVENT IS NOT LISTED HERE,  PLEASE CONTACT US.

 

 

 

SOLAR CAR EVENTS

 

 

American Solar Challenge

American Tour de Sol

American World Solar Challenge - Formula Sun          

Australian World Solar Challenge

Canadian Solar Discovery Challenge

Dream Cup Solar Car Race Suzuka 2003 - Japan

Japanese World Solar Car Rallye

North American Solar Challenge

Phaethon 2004

Solar Express - Solar Bike Race

Sunrayce

SunRace 2003 - Australia

World Solar Car Rally - Japan

World Solar Rallye - Japan

 

 

 

 

THINKING OF BUILDING YOUR OWN SOLAR CAR?  CHECK OUT THE PAGES BELOW AS THEY COME ONLINE........

 

 

 

1. Chassis - and seating

2. Mechanics - suspension, steering, brakes

3. Motor and drive train

4. Motor controller

5. Solar Array - usually part of body

6. Batteries or fuel cells

7. Electrical System - and instruments

8. Driver Controls - switches, lighting, etc

9. Bodywork - Screen, etc

 

 

 

SOLAR CAR PART FINDER 

 

 

 


 

A taste for adventure capitalists

Solar Cola - a healthier alternative.

 

 

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