Conversion Of An Existing Car To A Rechargeable Electric Vehicle

There is a need to improve the efficiency and reduce tailpipe emissions while maintaining the affordability of vehicles that are currently used for daily commuting. As petroleum deposits dwindle, automobile populations soar, gas prices inflate and cities become choked with combustion emissions, the internal combustion engine (ICE) is increasingly becoming the victim of its own success. Assuming that private automobiles continue to be a vital link in modern societies, they must become cleaner and more energy efficient. Students working toward a baccalaureate degree in Mechanical Engineering Technology at the University of Cincinnati are required to complete a “Design, Build, and Test” Senior Capstone Design Project. During the 2006-2007 academic year two MET students proposed, for their “senior project”, to convert an existing Mustang automobile to a rechargeable electric vehicle (REV) for commuter transportation. They derived a great deal of personal satisfaction by working on a technically complex project. This paper will give a short description of the Mechanical Engineering Technology senior capstone design course sequence at University of Cincinnati, the list of pre-requisites of this sequence, and describe the 2006-2007 REV project, providing information about an affordable, efficient and cleaner method for commuter transportation.