LIFE. AND HOW TO HAVE ONE
NOVEMBER 4,2010
Jayp
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lica of Naismith's rules hanging on the wall at Amy Barber Shop, 842 1/2 Massachusetts St.
He said the copy has been there
-Edited by Alex Tretbar
SUSTAINABILITY
KU EcoHawks convert donated car to electric
Kansas Libraries will use the car to deliver on-campus mail
BY KELLY STRODA kstroda@kansan.com
out
The full conversion is estimated to cost $55,000
Josh Petty always liked tinkering with machines when he was
Now he has a bigger project.
Petty, a senior from Olathe,
s team leader of the KU
younger. Hed work on his mom's broken lawn mower until it was finally running smoothly.
Student Senate passed a bill which gave the EcoHawks $2,500 to use for the conversion project.
Other funding for the project is coming from the EcoHawks budget and sponsors.
EcoHawks' GMC Jimmy project. The group is working to convert the car into a fully-electric vehicle. Petty said the group hopes to save the project completed by the end of spring.
The 1997 GMC Jimmy, a small sport utility vehicle, sits dropped up on car jacks in the KU EcoHawks' garage on West Campus. It's a definite change of scene from the police impound at where the Jimmy sat for two years before being donated to the EcoHawks.
But for now, the conversion is a work in progress.
Instead of a gas engine, the Jimmy will be powered by a main electric motor and two auxiliary motors, Petty said. The motors
right now — no tires, a battered back fender and a missing front end. The EcoHawks removed the Jimmy's engine last week.
— the gas pedal line here, air bags wires there.
"It's that hands-on learning that makes them the best engineers."
Wires and tubes are exposed that some people will never see in their entire lives. Blue painting tape marks the wires and tubes
The car looks a bit dilapidated
CHRIS DEPCIK EcoHawks advisor
will run using more than 1,000 rechargeable batteries. The batteries — similar to those that cordless drills use — are about the size of AA batteries.
Just as each system in the car's engine has to work in unison, Petty said the group members have to work together as well. The 12 students working on the project have a different area of focus.
Jon Kalinowski, a senior from Wichita, is focused on power steering. He said he enjoys the freedom and hands-on learning that the project provides.
"I love the fact that we aren't just doing theory," he said. "We're not just sitting in a lab. We're not just on the Internet or reading books."
The students have to research,
theorize and then put their work into practice.
After the car is finished, KU Libraries will use the car to deliver on-campus mail. The campus mail route includes main and West Campus buildings in addition to continuing education buildings on Kasold Drive. On a typical day, the KU Libraries mail vehicle travels about 22 miles.
Petty said the electric vehicle would be able to travel 80 to 90 miles before a recharge.
Lars Leon, associate librarian for KU Libraries, said the libraries encourage sustainability. The electric vehicle is another step in that direction.
There shouldn't be any worry that the Jimmy won't be noticed. Petty said the EcoHawks hope to paint the frame lime green and the body white.
Edited by Lisa Curran
"It's that hands-on learning that makes them the best engineers," said Chris Depcik, EcoHawks advisor and assistant professor of mechanical engineering.
"It will almost be a billboard for the idea of sustainability," Lars said.
LARRI-BMX seeks the city's approval of a plan to construct a course to fulfill Lawrence's BMX interest.
New biking club proposes local BMX racetrack
LAWRENCE|3A
makes sense in historical context
Columnist Luke Brinker explains that the apparent jump in 18- to 24-year-old voters in 2008 actually wasn't all that dramatic. By comparison, Baby Boomers were driven to the polls by factors such as the draft.
Check out The Wave for up-to-date stories on Kansas football, including the scoop on new redshirt freshman Erick McGriff and commentary on fan attendance this season.
INDEX
Find extra football coverage in The Wave
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