Saskatchewan Polytechnic students have once again proven their international eco-car chops as they journeyed to Bangalore, India to tie at eighth place in the Shell Eco-marathon World Championship Series from October 10 to 12, 2023.
The Sask Polytech team's urban concept car achieved an impressive result of 214 km/l in the competition, which Sask Polytech has participated in since 2017.
The urban concept car finished in the top spot earlier this year at the Shell Eco-marathon Americas Challenge, held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in April. The win marked the second time the team has qualified for the world championship final in India.
“We are incredibly proud of our students who qualified for the Shell Eco-marathon international competition,” Dr. Larry Rosia, Sask Polytech president and CEO, said in a media release.
“These students are great innovators, using recycled and eco-friendly materials to build their car. They did a great job showcasing their talents and the benefits of their Sask Polytech education on a world stage. While I know the team is disappointed with the results, our students and faculty put in a valiant effort and have reason to be proud of our finish among such strong international competition.”
Tim Muench, program head of the design and manufacturing engineering technology department, said he is ecstatic that his students could once again compete internationally.
"Once again, the team has taken inspiration from Saskatchewan's prairie culture, incorporating recycled carbon fibre hockey sticks into the car frame. The urban concept car also has a 35cc ice auger engine with a custom fuel injection system and a steering wheel made of flax fibre," Muench explained. "For the last year, students have been making the systems better and building in reliability. I’m so incredible proud of our team and their dedication to innovation.”
Sask Polytech eco-car specifics:
- Weight - 107 kg
- Engine - 35cc Honda ice auger, 1.25hp
- Frame - recycled hockey sticks
- Body shell - 3D-printed with low infill so it is hollow for light weight
- Transmission - 8-speed derailleur
Twelve student teams from around the world gathered in Bangalore for the competition, pushing the boundaries of energy efficiency and innovation. The competition is a race for both speed and fuel efficiency, and urban concept car entrants must also take into account comfort, luggage space, and other city driving considerations.
Sask Polytech students have been working on their urban concept car since September 2022, designing, building, refining, and testing it in multiple iterations to achieve maximum energy efficiency. It could potentially be used as a future commuter car and must include two doors, four wheels, full lighting, horn, brake functions, and a windshield wiper.
Under the direction of Muench and designated faculty advisor Andrew Baerg, Sask Polytech students from the Mechanical Engineering Technology (MET), Design and Manufacturing Engineering Technology (DMET), Machinist, and Automotive Service Technician (AST) programs came together to collaborate on the design.
Shell Eco-marathon is one of the world’s leading student engineering competitions focused on energy optimization. Teams are asked to design, build, and drive some of the most energy-efficient experimental vehicles in the world.
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