We were impressed by the plug-in biodiesel hybrid Beetle students at University of Kansas cooked up last October, but now we're even more so. Not only have they made the Bug much prettier, they've officially topped themselves by designing and building a solar charging station for the car.
The group of green engineers call themselves the EcoHawks and envision a future filled with plug-in hybrids just like the one theirs. But they know the best energy is renewable energy, so the EcoHawks accepted the challenge of taking their car off the grid. That explains the six monocrystalline solar cells on the roof of their workshop (shown above). The panels charge a battery bank the car plugs into when it needs a charge.
"It took a few months for the students to research the setup and find the proper components," said professor Chris Depcik. "After the purchase of these items, it only took a couple weeks to put the system up and get it running. The six students working together put it together relatively quick."
"We can plug two cars directly into the system to recharge at the same time," Depcik said. "We are currently trying to figure out how long it will take for the Beetle to recharge from empty to full."
For their next feat, the EcoHawks will connect the car up to the larger power grid and integrate a wind turbine into the charging station. With an EPA grant, the group will make sure the Beetle can charge after dark and give back to the grid during times of heavy demand.
"The idea is to explore different smart grid technologies," said EcoHawk Jessica Lamb. "Next year, we are looking to expand the infrastructure technologies."
Photo: University of Kansas EcoHawks
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