UOB clean vehicle

Abstract

The aim of the project is to construct a prototype for an electric vehicle capable of ascending the slopes of the University of Balamand carrying four passengers with a minimum velocity of 9km/hr. The purpose of this vehicle is to replace the diesel-powered buses circulating within the campus and injecting their poisonous fumes into the air while costing the university a pack of money with the continuous increase in the price of oil. Thus, the vehicle should serve as a contribution in the revolution of green technologies implemented in Lebanon and as an economical option for the university. A used two-passenger golf cart was the foundation of the product. To fulfill the projects goal, it had to be transformed into a four-passenger vehicle. Thus, several designs for an extension were studied, and one had to be chosen and installed bearing in mind the importance of lightness and endurance of the design. In accordance to the new weight obtained, the required power to climb uphill was calculated. That required the calculation of the largest slope that could be faced while traveling the university roads. Then, a study was conducted revealing the variation of power needed as a function of weight, slope, and velocity, and the variation of velocity with respect to the power supplied. A makeover process was conducted on the vehicle. The parts that sandblasting failed to clean and repair were detached from the chassis, constructed from scratch, and then reattached to the intact parts. Those included the battery frame and the whole front of the frame. The steering, braking, and suspension systems were detached, repaired, and then reattached to the main frame. All systems were tested and proven to function properly.