Batteries included at annual eV Challenge

Twenty odd teams, each with four drivers, took part in the Lowveld Rotary Club’s fourth annual eV Challenge, making it the biggest to date.
Team Imagine Scholar, from KaMhlushwa near Malalane, swooped up the grand prize of the day – a trip to Cape Town.

All participating teams were divided into three categories: Class A consisted of new entrants (grades nine to 12), although one member was allowed who had participated before.

The maximum budget for vehicles in this class was R5 000. Learners (grades nine to 12) who had entered before were categorised into Class B, with a maximum budget of R8 000.  Class C catered for university students and private teams, who were not allowed to exceed R12 000 for their vehicle.
The aim of the challenge was to complete as many laps in one hour as possible, in a car with one seat, a minimum of three wheels, and powered only by electric motors operated by sealed batteries.

Each team consisted of at least three drivers, all of whom had to spend an equal time behind the wheel.  Drivers also had to demonstrate a certain level of driving competence to the judges before being allowed to compete.  Some other rules were: the wheels had to be in contact with the track at all times – vehicles were not allowed to exceed 2 400 millimetres in length, 1 500 millimetres in width and had to have a ground clearance of less than 40 millimetres.

When seated in the vehicle, the driver had to sit in the traditional position of feet forward and head toward the back, in a fixed seat no more than 200 millimetres from the ground.  All cars had to be fitted with a minimum of two independent brake systems and the functionality of these systems were subjected to serious scrutinizing before the race.

One very creative team designed a car with a solar panel as the roof. Each team had to present, before the race, a technical data sheet along with a costing sheet to ensure they have met all the criteria as set out by the rules for the competition.

For example, battery sets had to fit the 432 kilowatt-hour rating, which, for sealed lead-acid (SLA) batteries, is measured using a C20 rating.
“This was a lovely community project made possible by the cooperation between both members of the Rotary Club and the public,” said organiser Ed Coombes of Lowveld Rotary Club.

“The event keeps growing every year and we would like to thank all those who contributed to its success. It was spectacular.”  This year the organisers invited a male and a female celebrity team, driving cars which raced in the 2014 event. The female team won (32 to 19 laps).

The male team went flat out from round one. This of course drained the batteries before the hour was out. Next year… watch this space!

Results

Class A: School – Team – laps
1. Penreach – Propers – 29
2. Penreach – Mandlesive – 17
3. Lowveld High – Odd Future – 13
Class B:
1. Bergvlam – Bergvlam – 41
2. Uplands College – Circuits – 34
3. Barberton High – Solar Cycloos – 34
Class C:
1. Willem Botha – Elektone – 19.