Ohio Technical College Students Build Electric-Powered Van

April 02, 2009

April is Earth Month, and in response to the nation's growing desire to be more "green," and less oil dependent, a group of students enrolled in Ohio Technical College's Alternative Fuel program recently designed and built an all-electric-powered vehicle dubbed the "Electro-Van." The van, a 1997 Ford E350, now runs solely off the power of electricity, is fully functional, and can reach speeds of up to 35 mph with a two-hour drive-time capacity. (While 35 mph doesn't seem especially fast, it's appropriate for use in small communities, on campus, and local delivery purposes. Just don't take it on the freeway!)

"What a great way to show off our students' abilities and to increase public awareness of alternative fuel vehicle options," said Tom King, director of Enrollment Management, Ohio Technical College. "As the world continues to get greener, it's vital our students are trained and knowledgeable about the products, technologies and processes involved in creating, converting and maintaining alternative fuel vehicles."

The group of 13 Ohio Technical College students spent six weeks designing and building the Electro-Van. Modifications included converting it from diesel to electric with revisions to the body and drivetrain to accommodate the new power supply system. Solar panels have been added for recharging its collection of 21 batteries which power an 95-horsepower electric motor.

In addition to performing the mechanical conversions, students enrolled in OTC's Collision Repair classes painted the Electro-Van green to represent a healthy and clean environment, and installed a diamondplate interior for an ultra-modern look. Their final step was to apply a full-body wrap, complete with lightning bolts, a globe, and the Ohio Technical College logo, designed by the school's Custom Paint and Graphics Division students.

The press release describing the assignment didn’t include project costs which might help determine the feasibility of performing a similar swap to your own vehicle. Costs for this conversion were reduced by sponsors who contributed to the Electro-Van project, such as: Pro-Class; Ralph H. Phillips Companies; T & K Welding Co. Inc.; A & B Grinding; Bills Transmissions; Ohio Materials Handling Inc.; Interstate Batteries; Goodyear; GC Supply Inc.; Kirk Battery; and Modern Tire Mart Inc.

Ohio Technical College is an accredited private, proprietary technical school dedicated to providing technical training in the world of modern mechanics by pursuing industry alliances, providing outstanding training equipment and focusing on the needs of individual students. For more information, visit www.ohiotechnicalcollege.com and www.psi-now.com.

Jody DeVere
President and CEO
http://www.askpatty.com
http://www.carblabber.com