Mango Electric Car (Artist's impression). Credit: Univ. of Sydney.
By Rich Bowden
First year students at the University of Sydney (NSW) have designed a revolutionary electric car which can recharge itself and does not require axles and gear boxes.
A University of Sydney news release said the team had spent five months hand building the concept “ManGo” car from plywood, foam and fibreglass.
Associate Professor Michael Roberts, who conceived the project, described the vehicle as a breakthrough in design capabilities.
“It’s a pretty radical design: a four-wheel drive with a motor in each wheel, eliminating the need for mechanical brakes,” he said. “The motors are used as brakes and actually recharge the car’s battery when it is running down hill.”
“There are no axles, differentials or gear boxes. So the car is nimble, light and inexpensive to run.”
“It also makes the car simple to build: the mechanics have been replaced with software and inexpensive electronics,” Prof Roberts added.
He said the wheel motors of the car meant it was three times more efficient than a petrol engine and the efficiency was bolstered by the recharging of electrical energy.
Though the ManGo was still in prototype stage, Prof. Roberts said it showed how electrical cars had the potential to dominate the market.
“It reminds me of the emergence of computer hardware in California 30 years ago. Back then, big name companies such as Sperry-Univac, Control Data and Burroughs dominated the computer industry.”
” These companies are now consigned to the history books, having been usurped by the PC.”
“I see the same think happening with cars. While the big names in the industry are fighting for survival, there is an opportunity for smaller companies to enter the field with a simpler product that better meets consumer demand,” he said.
The ManGo concept car will be presented by students from the Faculty’s Advanced Engineering Network at the Seymour Centre on 23 September.
A University of Sydney news release said the team had spent five months hand building the concept “ManGo” car from plywood, foam and fibreglass.
Associate Professor Michael Roberts, who conceived the project, described the vehicle as a breakthrough in design capabilities.
“It’s a pretty radical design: a four-wheel drive with a motor in each wheel, eliminating the need for mechanical brakes,” he said. “The motors are used as brakes and actually recharge the car’s battery when it is running down hill.”
“There are no axles, differentials or gear boxes. So the car is nimble, light and inexpensive to run.”
“It also makes the car simple to build: the mechanics have been replaced with software and inexpensive electronics,” Prof Roberts added.
He said the wheel motors of the car meant it was three times more efficient than a petrol engine and the efficiency was bolstered by the recharging of electrical energy.
Though the ManGo was still in prototype stage, Prof. Roberts said it showed how electrical cars had the potential to dominate the market.
“It reminds me of the emergence of computer hardware in California 30 years ago. Back then, big name companies such as Sperry-Univac, Control Data and Burroughs dominated the computer industry.”
” These companies are now consigned to the history books, having been usurped by the PC.”
“I see the same think happening with cars. While the big names in the industry are fighting for survival, there is an opportunity for smaller companies to enter the field with a simpler product that better meets consumer demand,” he said.
The ManGo concept car will be presented by students from the Faculty’s Advanced Engineering Network at the Seymour Centre on 23 September.
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