Mizzou Hydrogen Car Team
Encyclopedia
The Mizzou Hydrogen Car Team designs, builds and competes with a prototype hydrogen fuel cell vehicle
run by students at the University of Missouri
in Columbia, Missouri
. They compete with their Award-Winning vehicle named "Tigergen II" in the Shell
Eco-Marathon
. In the 2011 competition they achieved 13.8mi/kWh or the gasoline equivalent of 476 miles per gallon which won them the 1st place prize for the Hydrogen category in the Urban Concept division. The team also won an off-track award for "Best Team Spirit"
fuel cells and competed in the North American Solar Challenge as a demonstration vehicle. The current vehicle Tigergen II operates on a single 1.2kW Ballard fuel cell and competes in the Urban Concept category of the Shell Eco Marathon.
design. This construction technique saves weight without compromising the structural integrity of the vehicle. To further reduce weight, Tigergen II's monocoque structure is composed entirely of composite materials and carbon fiber is used extensively throughout the car. Tigergen II uses a Nexa Ballard hydrogen fuel cell to convert energy from hydrogen gas into electricity which is then used to power the vehicle's electric motor. Safety is a priority in Tigergen II. The driver is secured with a five-point racing safety harness along with the driver being separated from all components of the fuel system by a fire resistant bulkhead and easy access to a fire extinguisher. Tigergen II competed in the 2010 Eco-Marathon and will be competing again in 2011 with some major tweaks and advancements. For the 2011 competition, Tigergen II has been equipped with lighter lithium ion batteries and new ball bearings in the wheels with ultra-low rolling resistance. Gearing has also been adopted to allow the motor to operate in its optimal range.
The team competed for the first time with their vehicle named "Tigergen II" in the Shell
Eco-Marathon
although it did not finish the race due to technical difficulties. The team was awarded a trophy and monetary prize for the "Perseverance in the Face of Adversity" as a result of the hard work they did to get the car working at the race.
runs to receive six qualifying results. Run 2 experienced a technical problem but the fuel cell was rebooted and the run was completed. Of the six runs the highest efficiency obtained was on run "5" with 13.79 mi/kWh or 476 MPG. The team was awarded with First Prize for the Hydrogen Category in the Urban Concept Division. The team was also awarded a trophy and monetary prize for "Best Team Spirit"
Fuel cell vehicle
A Fuel cell vehicle or Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle is a type of hydrogen vehicle which uses a fuel cell to produce electricity, powering its on-board electric motor...
run by students at the University of Missouri
University of Missouri
The University of Missouri System is a state university system providing centralized administration for four universities, a health care system, an extension program, five research and technology parks, and a publishing press. More than 64,000 students are currently enrolled at its four campuses...
in Columbia, Missouri
Columbia, Missouri
Columbia is the fifth-largest city in Missouri, and the largest city in Mid-Missouri. With a population of 108,500 as of the 2010 Census, it is the principal municipality of the Columbia Metropolitan Area, a region of 164,283 residents. The city serves as the county seat of Boone County and as the...
. They compete with their Award-Winning vehicle named "Tigergen II" in the Shell
Royal Dutch Shell
Royal Dutch Shell plc , commonly known as Shell, is a global oil and gas company headquartered in The Hague, Netherlands and with its registered office in London, United Kingdom. It is the fifth-largest company in the world according to a composite measure by Forbes magazine and one of the six...
Eco-Marathon
Eco-marathon
The Eco-Marathon is an annual competition sponsored by Shell, in which participants build special vehicles to achieve the highest possible fuel efficiency. The Eco-Marathon is held around the world with events in Finland, France, Germany, The Netherlands, Japan, and the USA...
. In the 2011 competition they achieved 13.8mi/kWh or the gasoline equivalent of 476 miles per gallon which won them the 1st place prize for the Hydrogen category in the Urban Concept division. The team also won an off-track award for "Best Team Spirit"
About the Team
The team, located on the campus of the University of Missouri and run entirely by students, seeks to promote awareness of alternative fuels, develop technology, and allow members to gain practical experience through constructing a hydrogen vehicle. Advised by Professor Richard Whelove, of the Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Department, the team was formerly known as the Mizzou Solar Car Team and switched over to hydrogen after 6 generations of solar cars. The team's first venture into hydrogen powered vehicles was with Tigergen I which ran on two 1.2kW BallardBallard Power Systems
Ballard Power Systems , located in Burnaby, British Columbia -- a suburb of Vancouver -- is a company that designs, develops, and manufactures zero emission proton-exchange-membrane fuel cells. This company has made a bus that uses only hydrogen fuel cells. These fuel cells combine hydrogen and...
fuel cells and competed in the North American Solar Challenge as a demonstration vehicle. The current vehicle Tigergen II operates on a single 1.2kW Ballard fuel cell and competes in the Urban Concept category of the Shell Eco Marathon.
Current Technology
The body and chassis of Tigergen II is integrated as one load bearing system in a monocoqueMonocoque
Monocoque is a construction technique that supports structural load by using an object's external skin, as opposed to using an internal frame or truss that is then covered with a non-load-bearing skin or coachwork...
design. This construction technique saves weight without compromising the structural integrity of the vehicle. To further reduce weight, Tigergen II's monocoque structure is composed entirely of composite materials and carbon fiber is used extensively throughout the car. Tigergen II uses a Nexa Ballard hydrogen fuel cell to convert energy from hydrogen gas into electricity which is then used to power the vehicle's electric motor. Safety is a priority in Tigergen II. The driver is secured with a five-point racing safety harness along with the driver being separated from all components of the fuel system by a fire resistant bulkhead and easy access to a fire extinguisher. Tigergen II competed in the 2010 Eco-Marathon and will be competing again in 2011 with some major tweaks and advancements. For the 2011 competition, Tigergen II has been equipped with lighter lithium ion batteries and new ball bearings in the wheels with ultra-low rolling resistance. Gearing has also been adopted to allow the motor to operate in its optimal range.
Objectives of the Race
The purpose of the Shell Eco Marathon race is to drive as far as possible on the least amount of fuel. The competition is based on efficiency rather than speed and awards are given to teams that use the least amount of fuel while driving on a 6 mile circuit. The Urban Concept category subjects vehicles to constraints that resemble those of a consumer vehicle such as brake lights, luggage space, and four wheels along with stop-and-go driving. The next competition takes place March 2012 at Discovery Green in Houston, TX.2010 Shell Eco Marathon
| 1 | 10.76 | 372 | Jennifer Claybrooks |
| 2 | 12.87 | 445 | Jennifer Claybrooks |
| 3 | 12.83 | 443 | Jennifer Claybrooks |
| 4 | 13.19 | 456 | Jennifer Claybrooks |
| 5 | 13.79 | 476 | Jennifer Claybrooks |
| 6 | 12.87 | 445 | Andy McMullen |
The team competed for the first time with their vehicle named "Tigergen II" in the Shell
Royal Dutch Shell
Royal Dutch Shell plc , commonly known as Shell, is a global oil and gas company headquartered in The Hague, Netherlands and with its registered office in London, United Kingdom. It is the fifth-largest company in the world according to a composite measure by Forbes magazine and one of the six...
Eco-Marathon
Eco-marathon
The Eco-Marathon is an annual competition sponsored by Shell, in which participants build special vehicles to achieve the highest possible fuel efficiency. The Eco-Marathon is held around the world with events in Finland, France, Germany, The Netherlands, Japan, and the USA...
although it did not finish the race due to technical difficulties. The team was awarded a trophy and monetary prize for the "Perseverance in the Face of Adversity" as a result of the hard work they did to get the car working at the race.
2011 Shell Eco Marathon
In 2011 the team competed for the second time with Tigergen II with much greater success than before. Tigergen II completed all sixruns to receive six qualifying results. Run 2 experienced a technical problem but the fuel cell was rebooted and the run was completed. Of the six runs the highest efficiency obtained was on run "5" with 13.79 mi/kWh or 476 MPG. The team was awarded with First Prize for the Hydrogen Category in the Urban Concept Division. The team was also awarded a trophy and monetary prize for "Best Team Spirit"