Cambridge University Eco Racing
Encyclopedia
Cambridge University Eco Racing (CUER) is a student-run team which designs, builds and races
solar vehicle
s. 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.
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
. 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. CUER runs outreach events at local schools and has been featured in a wide range of local, national and international media.
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.
in 2012. Historically, CUER had intended to compete in the Zero Rally Africa in January 2009; however, this contest was subsequently cancelled.
. As yet very little technical data is available on this vehicle.
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.
Solar car racing
Solar car racing refers to competitive races of electric vehicles which are powered by solar energy obtained from solar panels on the surface of the car . The first solar car race was the Tour de Sol in 1985 which led to several similar races in Europe, USA and Australia...
solar vehicle
Solar vehicle
A solar vehicle is an electric vehicle powered completely or significantly by direct solar energy. Usually, photovoltaic cells contained in solar panels convert the sun's energy directly into electric energy. The term "solar vehicle" usually implies that solar energy is used to power all or part...
s. Founded in 2007, its first prototype vehicle, Affinity became the first solar-powered
Solar power
Solar energy, radiant light and heat from the sun, has been harnessed by humans since ancient times using a range of ever-evolving technologies. Solar radiation, along with secondary solar-powered resources such as wind and wave power, hydroelectricity and biomass, account for most of the available...
car to drive legally on UK roads
Roads in the United Kingdom
Roads in the United Kingdom form a network of varied quality and capacity. Road distances are shown in miles or yards and UK speed limits are in miles per hour or use of the national speed limit symbol. Some vehicle categories have various lower maximum limits enforced by speed limiters...
. The team built a second generation vehicle to compete in the 2009 World Solar Challenge
World Solar Challenge
The World Solar Challenge is a solar-powered car race which covers through the Australian Outback, from Darwin to Adelaide.The race attracts teams from around the world, most of which are fielded by universities or corporations although some are fielded by high schools...
, and has made improvements to the same chassis to compete in 2011.
Background
Cambridge University Eco Racing is based in the University's Department of EngineeringCambridge University Engineering Department
The Cambridge University Engineering Department at the University of Cambridge is one of the largest departments in the university. The main site is situated at Trumpington Street, to the south of Cambridge city centre. The department is the primary centre for engineering teaching and research...
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
Land's End
Land's End is a headland and small settlement in west Cornwall, England, within the United Kingdom. It is located on the Penwith peninsula approximately eight miles west-southwest of Penzance....
to John O'Groats to raise awareness of sustainable energy
Sustainable energy
Sustainable energy is the provision of energy that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs. Sustainable energy sources include all renewable energy sources, such as hydroelectricity, solar energy, wind energy, wave power, geothermal...
. As part of the End to End
Land's End to John o' Groats
Land's End to John o' Groats is the traversal of the whole length of the island of Great Britain between two extremities; in the southwest and northeast. The traditional distance by road is and takes most cyclists ten to fourteen days; the record for running the route is nine days. Off-road...
venture, it was endorsed by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency
Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency
The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency is the organisation of the UK Government responsible for maintaining a database of drivers and a database of vehicles in Great Britain; its counterpart in Northern Ireland is the Driver & Vehicle Agency...
to legally drive on UK roads, and became the first such vehicle to qualify. CUER runs outreach events at local schools and has been featured in a wide range of local, national and international media.
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
World Solar Challenge
The World Solar Challenge is a solar-powered car race which covers through the Australian Outback, from Darwin to Adelaide.The race attracts teams from around the world, most of which are fielded by universities or corporations although some are fielded by high schools...
, 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
CFD
CFD may refer to:Science and computing* Computational fluid dynamics, a branch of fluid dynamics* Counterfactual definiteness, the ability, quantum mechanics, to consider results of unperformed measurements* Cfengine Daemon, the process that runs Cfengine...
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 ChallengeSouth African Solar Challenge
The South African Solar Challenge is an alternative fuel vehicle auto racing challenge in South Africa, with classes for hybrid vehicles, electric vehicles, solar vehicles, and biofuel-powered vehicles. The first challenge was run in 2008, and it will run every two years thereafter. The race...
in 2012. Historically, CUER had intended to compete in the Zero Rally Africa in January 2009; however, this contest was subsequently cancelled.
Affinity
Affinity is CUER's first vehicle, built as a prototype and based on a shape taken from MIT's Manta Elite solar car.| Dimensions (LWH) | 5 x 2 x 1 m |
|---|---|
| Cruising speed | 30 mph |
| Top speed | 50 mph |
| Kerb weight | 250 kg |
| Chassis | Steel space frame Space frame A space frame or space structure is a truss-like, lightweight rigid structure constructed from interlocking struts in a geometric pattern. Space frames can be used to span large areas with few interior supports... |
| 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 ChallengeWorld Solar Challenge
The World Solar Challenge is a solar-powered car race which covers through the Australian Outback, from Darwin to Adelaide.The race attracts teams from around the world, most of which are fielded by universities or corporations although some are fielded by high schools...
. 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 Space frame A space frame or space structure is a truss-like, lightweight rigid structure constructed from interlocking struts in a geometric pattern. Space frames can be used to span large areas with few interior supports... |
| 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.
External links
- Cambridge University Eco Racing
- Cambridge University Engineering Department
- North American Solar Challenge (NASC)
- World Solar Challenge (WSC)
Publications
- VarsityVarsity (Cambridge)Varsity is the oldest of Cambridge University's main student newspapers. It has been published continuously since 1947, and is one of only three fully independent student newspapers in the UK. It appears every Friday around Cambridge...
: "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
- Business Weekly