June 28 AERO Demo Letter

“GreenSpeed” is the 1^st UVM hybrid racing car created by a team of energetic UVM students from the University of Vermont College of Engineering and Mathematical Sciences new student organization called Alternative Energy Racing Organization (AERO).  

The UVM AERO made its inaugural participation in the International Formula Hybrid Competition with other teams from as far away as Russia, Canada and Taiwan at the New Hampshire International Speedway in Loudon, NH May 5-7, 2008, and has received Second Place in Technical Design (behind Embry-Riddle) as well as awards for:

Best Hybrid-in-Progress
Chrysler's Best Hybrid System Engineering Award
Thayer School Dean's Award: Most Innovative Design

“Congratulations to our UVM AERO team who have created possibilities for both engineering and non-engineering students to explore new technology applications”, says Domenico Grasso, Dean of the College of Engineering and Mathematical Sciences.  “The University and College are truly proud of their hard work, creativity and persistence!”

“This new hybrid car uses both gas and lithium batteries, and burns gas more efficiently through regenerative braking with a smarter engine that gets more gas joules onto the road,” says Andrew Laing, chair of IEEE and AERO team leader.  The car, sporting Hosier racing wheels and Weld racing hubs, is really two cars in one! 

Hard work

The team worked in earnest since January welding and building the chasis. “One of the most exciting moments was when the hybrid intellectual property connection of gas motor joined with the hybrid drive system,” says Laing.  “The culmination of our team’s hard work occurred when the engine started -- it was just incredible!”

This was not strictly an engineering challenge, but included managing time, funds, and participants.  UVM AERO promotes Green Technologies and advocates for research and development of alternative energy systems for mobility engineering.  The AERO Constitution states:

“The purpose of AERO shall be to mitigate the environmental and political detriments of traditional energy systems by research, development, and advocacy of alternative energy systems useful for mobility engineering.” The UVM hybrid car is designed to run on gas as well as electric with a small 250 cc four cycle dirt bike engine along with a powerful electric motor. 

Dr. Matthew Pointer, a UVM lung specialist and racing enthusiast, says, “Dirty engines have a negative impact on human health.  Hybrid vehicles could change the air quality surrounding racing.”

New Hampshire International Speedway

The 2008 competition held May 5-7, 2008 at the New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Loudon, NH, was organized by Thayer School of Engineering at Dartmouth College and carries the endorsement of the Society of Automotive Engineers, Inc. (SAE) and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc. (IEEE). The event included an educational program for high school students interested in learning more about Formula Hybrid.

California Polytechnic State University- SLO, Dartmouth College, Drexel University, Embry-Riddle Aerio University Daytona Beach, Florida Institute of Technology, Illinois Institute of Technology, MADI State Technical University, McGill University, National Chiao Tung University, Taiwan; North Carolina State University- Raleigh, Tufts University, University of California, Irvine, University of Wisconsin- Madison, Yale University.

SAE Formula Hybrid Competition

The SAE Formula Hybrid Competition challenges undergraduate and graduate college and university students to design, build, and compete in an open-wheel, single-seat racecar. Cars must conform to a formula which emphasizes drive train innovation and fuel efficiency in a high-performance application.  Formula Hybrid builds on the Formula SAE Program and takes it to the next level by adding a new layer of complexity and an additional technical challenge. Typical SAE cars are small and light with high performance motorcycle engines that run at 100 miles an hour, and can go to 60 mph in 3-4 seconds.

 2006 Hybrid Vehicle, Thayer School of Engineering, Dartmouth College 

The Beginning

Project GreenSpeed began when Doug Fraser, director of the Formula Hybrid Project from Thayer School of Engineering at Dartmouth College, contacted Prof. Jeffrey Frolik in the University of Vermont College of Engineering and Mathematical Sciences, with news of a new hybrid competition he was initiating with The Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) designed to give engineering students the opportunity to explore hybrid technologies.

 The major UVM students who have worked on AERO include:
Andrew Laing, senior in engineering management and electrical engineering (originally from Foxboro, Massachusetts), attended Lyndon Institute, in Lyndon Center, Vermont.
Brian Leach, sophomore in mechanical engineering and AERO Leader for mechanics on the car, attended Burr & Burton Academy, Manchester, VT.
Ed Johns, senior in electrical engineering, worked on control systems and is head of electrical team, and is from Groton, Vermont.
Christopher Farmer, senior in electrical engineering, created the battery system, and   attended Colchester High School in Colchester Vermont.

 Student team video can be viewed on UTUBE: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U9iQZ4D51dI

 For more information visit: www.Formula-hybrid.org

Aero web site: http://www.cems.uvm.edu/~aero

 Team officers contacts:
Andrew Laing, Team Leader of Executive Team:  861-2443  alaing@uvm.edu
Brian Leach, Vice President & Technical Team Leader 802-999-4657 bleach@uvm.edu
Christopher Farmer, Team Leader, Battery System
Ed Johns, Team Leader, Electrical
Thatcher Friant, Treasurer tfraint@uvm.edu

 Advisors:
Jeff Frolik ,Assistant Professor, UVM CEMS School of Engineering
Phone: 802.656.0732  jfrolik@uvm.edu
Paul Hines, Assistant Professor, UVM CEMS School of Engineering
Phone: 802-656-9660 Paul.hines@uvm.edu

Technical Assistant:
Floyd Vilmont, UVM CEMS Prototype Lab, 122E Votey Phone: (802)656-4673 fvilmont@cems.uvm.edu

Sponsorships and donations for the UVM Hybrid Car

The UVM AERO’s cost is currently approximately $30,000 which has been made possible by generous donations from a variety of sponsors.

Financial Support: APR (Anderson Power Products), Mr. Ronald Brand, CTS Corporation, Hazelett Strip-Casting, IEEE Green Mountain Section, ITherm Technologies, MicroStrain, PowerStream Technology, Tyco Electronics, Vermont Space Grant Consortium, UVM College of Engineering and Mathematical Sciences, and the UVM Transportation Center.

Individual donors: Carrie and Nathan Stahler, Charles Lohe, James C. Iatridis, Jeff Frolik, Karyn Roberts and Saiyid Abu Rizvi.

In-Kind Support: Clarkson University, Capitol Steel,  Hazelett Stri-Casting,  Midtown Machine & Tool Supply Company, NSA Industries, Lyndon, VT, Omron, Tri-Angel MetalFab,  and the UVM Instrumentation and Model Facility (IMF).

Technical Support: eVermont, iTherm Technologies, and SBElectronics.

Dawn Densmore, Director, Outreach & Public Relations
UVM, College of Engineering and Mathematical Sciences
Phone: 802-656-8748

Melody...great.  Let us put an annoucement together this evening. 

Paul and I are meeting at 630am at Mazza's store...

Then we go on the Charlie and Ernie show am 620 at 7am.

At 930am, Ric Fulop founder A123 calls us at Mazza's (no press, SEC blackout). He is going to offer support, batteries, and invite the team to tour his design lab and factory (car's uses A123 batteries) in Watertown Mass

"Draft"
At 940am Press Conference Starts
Senator Mazza welcome
Brian's remarks
President Dan's remark's
Paul's remarks (all about the students and make the pitch for supportes for Gen 2)

Q&A

What do you all think?

V/R Brian

-----Original Message-----
From: Melody Burkins <melody.burkins@uvm.edu>
To: Dubie, Brian <Brian.Dubie@state.vt.us>
CC: Gretchen Babcock <gretchen.babcock@uvm.edu>; Hanson, Martha <Martha.Hanson@state.vt.us>; Domenico Grasso <dgrasso@uvm.edu>; Dawn Densmore <densmore@cems.uvm.edu>; Paul Hines <paul.hines@uvm.edu>
Sent: Tue Jul 01 16:55:23 2008
Subject: AERO information from CEMS

Hi Brian,

Thanks so much for the interest you have shown in the AERO project and our students -- our College couldn't be more proud of what they've accomplished. 

Paul Hines copied me on his last e-mail to you that included the student-created AERO press kit enclosure (attached here again) which may be all that you need for Thursday's events.  However, I'll also copy Dawn Densmore here in case you need anything more.  I think you know Dawn is the lead on Governor's Institutes of Vermont events here in CEMS and also our point person for press and outreach.  She would be more than happy to coordinate with you as needed.

Thank you again,
-Melody
--

Melody Brown Burkins, Ph.D.
Associate Dean for Economic Development and Research Partnerships
College of Engineering and Mathematical Sciences
The University of Vermont
Burlington, VT 05405-0156
802-656-2982
www.cems.uvm.edu
 

University of Vermont
AERO project archive
"Green Speed"