Converting an internal combustion engine vehicle to an electric vehicle

Abstract

Senior students in the Engineering and technology programs are challenged to thoroughly apply their learned technological knowledge and skills toward design and implementation of a challenging engineering product in senior deign or capstone courses. In this paper, a successfully implemented comprehensive design, which utilizes a synergy of competencies gained from undergraduate academic and research experiences with insight to the efforts concerning senior design project is presented. An electric vehicle is a type of alternative fuel car that utilizes electric motors and motor controllers instead of an internal combustion engine. Power is derived from battery-packs rather than a carbon based fuel. This saves not only money, but has much smaller impact on the environment. One drawback is that current marketed electric vehicles are costly for a consumer to obtain. In this paper, we discuss development of an electric vehicle for a cost that is less than a cost one spends on gas in a single year. The principles and components of electric vehicle systems will be shown and the process of conversion from an internal combustion vehicle to an electric vehicle will be described in detail. This paper demonstrates that creating a running electric vehicle is a financially, environmentally, and intellectually rewarding endeavor. © 2011 American Society for Engineering Education.