- Cambridge University Eco Racing
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This article is about the solar car team. For the person who calls dance figures (cuer), see Caller (dancing).
CUER logo
Cambridge University Eco Racing (CUER) is a student-run team which designs, builds and races solar vehicles. Founded in 2007, its first prototype vehicle, Affinity became the first solar-powered car to drive legally on UK roads. The team built a second generation vehicle to compete in the 2009 World Solar Challenge, and has made improvements to the same chassis to compete in 2011.
Contents
Background
Cambridge University Eco Racing is based in the University's Department of Engineering and comprises around 80 undergraduate members from several departments of Cambridge University. As well as having a large student body, the team is strongly supported by a number of academic and industrial advisers, some of whom supervise research projects in relevant fields.
The team was founded in 2007 by Martin McBrien, inspired by the solar car team at MIT. Its first vehicle, Affinity, was designed and constructed in early 2008 and was used as a prototype and display vehicle rather than for serious competition. In June 2008, Affinity was driven from Land's End to John O'Groats to raise awareness of sustainable energy.[1] As part of the End to End venture, it was endorsed by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency to legally drive on UK roads, and became the first such vehicle to qualify.[2] CUER runs outreach events at local schools and has been featured in a wide range of local, national and international media.[3]
In July 2008, work began on the second generation CUER vehicle, Endeavour (codenamed Bethany). Following design work by a number of students in the Engineering Department, and with the support of an advisory board consisting of notable figures including Herman Hauser and several Cambridge academics, the team competed in the 2009 World Solar Challenge, a 3000km marathon across Australia. They came 14th, of 26 competitors, after a battery failure severely hindered their chances of competing effectively.
Over the next two years, they continued redesigning and refining Endeavour, resulting in a car with much improved aerodynamic properties and more reliable batteries. The team used CFD simulations to make minor tweaks to the canopy, and tested the car extensively at a local airfield, before heading out to the next World Solar Challenge in 2011. There, after the hardest race on record due to a combination of thunderstorms and bush fires, they came 25th out of 37 teams.
Competition
CUER has competed in both the World Solar Challenge 2009 and 2011, and hope to look into entering the North American Solar Challenge and the South African Solar Challenge in 2012. Historically, CUER had intended to compete in the Zero Rally Africa in January 2009; however, this contest was subsequently cancelled.[4]
Vehicles
Affinity at Land's End, 2008Affinity
Affinity is CUER's first vehicle, built as a prototype and based on a shape taken from MIT's Manta Elite solar car.[5]
Dimensions (LWH) 5 x 2 x 1 m Cruising speed 30 mph Top speed 50 mph Kerb weight 250 kg Chassis Steel space frame Solar array power 1 kW Motor Efficiency 80% CdA 0.19 Bethany
The second generation vehicle, designed and built to compete in the World Solar Challenge. As yet very little technical data is available on this vehicle.
Dimensions (LWH) 5 x 1.8 x 1 m Cruising speed >55 mph Top speed - Kerb weight <200 kg Chassis Aluminium space frame Solar array power >1.2 kW Motor efficiency 90%+ CdA <0.12 Conferences and sponsorship
CUER regularly attends industry conferences. They have been represented at the Raymond James’ 4th Annual European Investors North American Equities Conference, and the Exhibition of Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering at Hethel Engineering Centre and Marketforce’s ‘Renewables 2008’. CUER also exhibited in Cambridge at the ARM Partner Meeting, Cambridge Climate’s ‘Entrepreneurship for a Zero-Carbon Society’ conference and CIR’s ‘Solar Smart HEAT’ event.
Further afield, CUER exhibited amongst the Europe’s top 100 Cleantech companies at the Guardian/Library House Essential Cleantech conference, and presented at ‘Commercialising Photovoltaics’ organised by Renewables East.
CUER has been sponsored by Hewlett Packard.[6]
See also
References
- ^ "Cambridge University Eco Racing solar car drive across Britain". PhysOrg.com. 11 June 2008. http://www.physorg.com/news132409745.html. Retrieved 19 April 2011.
- ^ Thomas, Vikki (17 June 2008). "First licensed solar vehicle". The Sun. http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/special_events/green_week/article1302070.ece.
- ^ Lucas, Paul (12 June 2008). "Sun shines on new green car concept". The Green Car Website. http://www.thegreencarwebsite.co.uk/blog/index.php/2008/06/12/sun-shines-on-new-green-car-concept/. Retrieved 19 April 2011.
- ^ "Solar-powered races". The Engineer. 10 June 2008. http://www.theengineer.co.uk/news/solar-powered-races/306622.article.
- ^ "Manta Elite". MIT Solar Electric Vehicle Team. http://solar-cars.scripts.mit.edu/car/mantaelite.php. Retrieved April 19, 2011.
- ^ "HP invests in the future of energy efficiency with Cambridge University Eco Racing team sponsorship". University of Cambridge. http://www.cambridgenetwork.co.uk/news/article/default.aspx?objid=48084. Retrieved 19 April 2011.
External links
- Cambridge University Eco Racing
- Cambridge University Engineering Department
- North American Solar Challenge (NASC)
- World Solar Challenge (WSC)
Publications
- Varsity: "Cambridge Abroad", A. McNally, Dec 2008, p34
- BlueSci: "Going Solar: Cambridge University Takes on the Solar Car Challenge", Jan 2009 p21
- York Press
- Cambridge Evening News
- Yorkshire Post
Websites
- Financial Times Online
- 4Car
- HP.com
- East of England International
- BBC Cambridgeshire
- Sustainability: The Journal of Record
- Silicon.com
- Virgin Media[dead link]
- Business Weekly[dead link]
Radio
Television
Categories:- Electric cars
- Solar powered vehicle racing
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