N E W S At the University of Canterbury’s E-Week, highschool students had the chance to test-drive UC Engineering’s electric go-karts www.engineeringnews.co.nz 13 Wrightspeed for Wellington… and Auckland Wrightspeed Inc, a leading manufacturer of range-extended electric vehicle powertrains, announced a $43 million deal with Infratil-owned NZ Bus that will see a significant number of its 1100 buses in Auckland and Wellington converted to electric. The iconic buses have been thrown a lifeline with their owner, NZ Bus, signing the deal. Under the terms of the deal, Wrightspeed will provide its award-winning powertrain technology – the Route 500 – to NZ Bus. The move marks Wrightspeed’s first expansion beyond refuse and delivery applications, into mass transit. The capital’s 60 trolley buses were set to be removed from service in mid-2017 The company says in a release: “With nearly 75 percent of its electricity sourced from clean energy including, hydro, geothermal and wind power, New Zealand has one of the cleanest energy mixes on the global stage. This deal marks the first tangible step towards New Zealand’s public transportation fleet transitioning to electric powered vehicles, which will make a significant contribution to reducing the country’s carbon footprint.” Wrightspeed’s Route 500 range powertrain is capable of powering vehicles weighing up to 36,000 pounds, in grades as steep as 40 percent. Vehicles with Wrightspeed’s powertrain maintain an efficient drive, with an estimated 11.1 miles per gallon gasoline equivalent. The 80kW, fuel agnostic Fulcrum turbine generator charges on-board batteries, which provide power to turn the wheels and give the buses unlimited range with refueling. The company’s patented Geared Traction Drive (GTD) digitally drives each wheel of the vehicle, providing the slip control needed to manage New Zealand streets. THE STATS: Maximum GVWR: 33,000 lbs Class 5, Class 6 & Class 7 GTD™ Units: 2 Fulcrum™ generators: 1 Horsepower: 250 hp Braking: 500 hp Top Speed: 50 – 72 MPH (configurable) Maximum Grade: 40% at max GVWR Range: Unlimited (with refueling) 27 miles (pure EV) Estimated MPGe:1 11.1 Fuel Consumption Reduced:2 74% Make the World Kicks off May 1 The campaign Make the World, from Engineering EE2E (Engineering Education to Employment), aims to raise awareness of engineering and its careers. It also targets groups which are under-represented – Maori, Pasifika and women. The company wants to change perceptions about engineering, showing the public what is involved and the great career opportunities available. In response to the shortage of New Zealand Diploma in Engineering (NZDE) and Bachelor of Engineering Technology (BEngTech) graduates, the campaign will focus on alternative pathways into engineering careers. Also, EE2E is seeking eligible tertiary education organisations and secondary schools to apply for funding for a new EE2E initiative. EE2E is looking for innovative joint proposals from secondary schools and eligible TEOs. The applications need to tell EE2E how you will work collaboratively to deliver programmes that will successfully prepare and pathway students – particularly women, Maori, and Pasifika – into tertiary engineering study. Successful projects will improve the pathway from school to tertiary study, increase awareness of engineering as a career, and increase enrolments in level 6–7 qualifications. For more, http://tinyurl.com/ee2efund. Applications will close at 5.00pm on May 27. IT ACTUALLY IS ROCKET SCIENCE… WITH SOME GO-KARTING High-school students interested in robotics, renewable energy, nanotechnology, rocketry, and how to design the next generation of smart devices, got first-hand experience in all these at the University of Canterbury. A week-long camp, E-Week provided a unique opportunity for curious young minds to get hands-on lab experience, visit local companies, program a robot and build a lab-ona chip. E-Week was a chance for New Zealand students in Year 12 or 13 to be hosted by the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Canterbury (UC) in Christchurch for a taste of university life. Electrical and Computer Engineering Professor Phil Bones with the assistance of several colleagues is running the annual E-Week where students can witness a rocket launch from the UC Rocketry programme, participate in learning activities in specialist teaching and research laboratories and enjoy social activities with like-minded peers. “Only fifteen students were selected from around New Zealand to attend this event, so it is quite an accomplishment to be selected,” Professor Bones says. The school pupils were selected based on academic merit, the subjects they are currently studying, their interest in engineering as a career and a teacher recommendation. “These students will have the opportunity to work in our labs, where they build a ‘lab-on-a-chip’, construct and program a small light-following robot, learn about electric vehicles and view demos in our unique High Voltage lab. They will also view a rocket launch from our Applications UC Rocketry programme.”
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