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UCAIR Grants Application Form
Due October 1, 2016
PLEASE USE THIS APPLICATION FORMAT.
Please email completed applications to
Organization Name: _Sunzeecar LLC______
Location: __3792 S. Millcreek Rd._, _Salt Lake City, _Salt Lake County
Street Address
MailingAddress: _3792 S. Millcreek Rd.______Salt Lake City, UT 84109____ZIP
Previous Address: ______none______, ______City
Street Address
Principal Contact Person: Andrew A. Schoenberg, PhD._ Title: Project Manager
First M.I. Last
Email:
Office Phone: _801 274 7423_ Mobile: 801 859 3821______
Secondary Contact Person: Christopher C. Harris Title: Partner
First M.I. Last
Email:
Office Phone: _801 274 7423__ Mobile: 801 505 1120______
Name of Project: National Highway Transportation Safety Administration Licensing
Requested Grant Amount: $ 15000
Please refer to the Request for Proposals document for guidelines
Project Type: 1. Emission Reduction and 3. Emerging Technology Development
Organization Description and History
Sunzeecar LLC was incorporated in Utah in 2004 with 4 family partners. It is a home based Research and Development company dedicated to producing a true zero emissions vehicle which can be powered mainly from a roof mounted solar panel on the vehicle’s roof.
Since 2004 nine versions of solar powered vehicles were developed and tested. The performance of the vehicles evolved with the improvements in batteries, solar panels and motors. Early versions used bicycle wheels and components and lead-acid or NIMh batteries with solar panels up to 160 watts. Power generated by electric motors for these early models reached 2.5 HP with speeds up to 30 mph. Market research indicated that higher speeds, better reliability and range were important for potential users. The emergence of Lithium batteries, more powerful electric hub-motors and more efficient and less costly solar panels have lead to the latest design of a solar powered vehicle called Ecotrike 16. This latest vehicle with a 327 watt solar panel on its roof reaches a top speed of 50 mph, a range of 50 miles with up to 8 HP delivered by two hub motors. To our amazement, this latest vehicle does not have to be “plugged-in” to charge the batteries on most sunny days. The highly efficient solar panel provides most of the needed charge for up to 16 miles of travel per day.
Sunzeecar LLC has had the financial resources over the last 12 years to fund between $5000 and $18000 for research, development and maintaining 6 vehicles currently on the road in the Wasatch Front. With the help of local machine shops we are capable of producing 1 to 2 vehicles per year. Sunzeecar LLC intends to find or spin off a production company, which would be capable of locally producing larger quantities of the vehicle as the need arises.
Organization Financial Information
Financial stability for Sunzeecar’s ongoing research and development is assured by a stable family income from 2 pensions and 2 social security incomes for our family. These have been the major sources allowing the development of the solar vehicles. We expect available income to continue for as much as of $12,000 per year. More would be available if needed from savings in a money fund and stocks valued at $97,000.
The parts costs for the vehicle without labor charges for assembly have been in the range of $7000. We have sold three used test vehicles to users for about half the parts costs. We have also provided maintenance and repair costs for these vehicles as needed. So far development and research costs have exceeded income from these sales.
Sunzeecar LLC, has estimated that profitability could be attained by a future manufacturing company when production reached 200 vehicles per year at a net cost of $5900 per vehicle including labor. This assumes that volume discounts for parts, motor and battery purchases will amount to 40 %. We have read that current manufacturers of electric cars pay about $300 per kWhr for Lithium batteries which is almost half of what Sunzeecar pays in purchases for a single vehicle. Our current cost for the 5 kWhr battery is the most expensive item at $2500. With declining costs of solar panels and batteries and volume discounts on parts we are aiming at an eventual production cost of the future solar commuter vehicle of under $10,000.
The Project
Sunzeecar LLC has developed a solar powered electric vehicle that can achieve zero emissions from a highly efficient solar panel on its roof. The specifications for this vehicle are shown in figure 1. If adopted by a significant portion of people now using full size cars, such a vehicle could significantly reduce air pollution in urban areas as well as eliminating burning of carbon fuels to generate the electricity to charge the batteries required in all electric vehicles.
The vehicle’s projected cost at below $10,000, and even $5000 if mass-produced, would greatly reduce the expenditure for transportation for the prospective users. Insurance, licensing and fuel costs are also much lower than for conventional cars. An additional benefit is that it uses ½ to 1/3 of a parking space, easing parking space requirements.
Figure 1. Photo and specifications for a solar-powered aerodynamic three-wheeled electric vehicle. It features a highly efficient 327 watt solar panel to charge the Lithium batteries. This eliminates the need to use a charging station for most days.
- Maximum speed: 50 mph ; Typicalenergy use:8.5 kWhr/100 miles = 400 MPGe
- Optimized energy consumption with regenerative braking
*Estimated Range on full charge: 50 miles at 40 mphaverage city driving
*Horsepower: 8 hp generated by two electric hub motors in the 13” inch rear wheels.
*High torque motors provide excellent hill climbing capability.
*Battery Energy: sixteen serial 3.2 volt , 100 AHr Lithium FP Batteries (53 Volt ,5.0 kWhr )
*Weight: 390 pounds including 180 lbs of Lithium batteries
* Dimensions: 95”x45” height 55”. Load capacity 300 lbs.
* Weather protection by streamlined enclosure, comfortable seat with seat belt
* Spring suspension with three wheel hydraulic disc brakes
* Turn signals, Brake lights, headlights, and horn
* Uses 1/2 parking space
* Street legal electric motorcycle in Utah
Goal:
The singular goal of this project is to gain market traction throughout the United States. Rather than licensing the vehicle one state at a time, our goal is to fund a larger initiative to gain the nationwide approval of this vehicle by approaching the Federal Highway Traffic Safety Administration for licensing. This anticipated approval and national recognition as a licensed vehicle would empower Sunzeecar to sell to a far broader market, opening access to far greater scalability and traction in large cities where there is more demand for parking space, greater economic pressure on vehicle ownership costs, as well as gaining access to millions more people who are already aware of fossil fuel challenges, and also sensitive to air quality issues.
Project Timeline
The vehicle that will be subjected to NHTSA scrutiny will be constructed in Spring 2017.
The vehicle will be transported to Barstow, Ca for testing during the Summer of 2017.
Any follow up details will be handle immediately after and the vehicle will be resubmitted for approval as soon as possible.
Budget
The estimated cost of applying for the National Highway Safety Commissions Vehicle Inspection is estimated to be $10,000. If there are any improvements that need to be made, we will budget an additional $5,000. I, Chris Harris, volunteer to contribute $10,000 to cover the costs of producing one vehicle to be tested, along with underwriting all of the costs of getting a vehicle to the testing location.
Grant Funding Areas
Does the project address asignificant source of emissions? Yes
This project specifically addresses the reduction of emissions from electric vehicles. The developed solar electric vehicle uses so little power and energy (8.5 kWhr per 100 miles, EPA rating of 400 MPGe) that the solar panel on the vehicle’s roof can provide much of the battery charge energy on a sunny day. Thus it avoids the need to find a charging station or plugging in an external charger, which in Utah would use electricity generated from burning coal or gas. Note that most electric vehicles are EPA rated at 120 MPGe or below. This means that Ecotrike 17 has achieved at least a 300 % reduction in electricity energy of typical electric cars sold presently.
Where will this project be located? Will this project reduce pollutants that create PM2.5 and ozone in nonattainment areas? Yes.
The project will be conducted in the Salt Lake County area. The solar powered electric vehicle, by replacing fossil-fuel-powered vehicles, will reduce PM2.5 and Ozone generation in the Wasatch Front areas. The highly efficient solar panel on its roof will significantly reduce the requirement for “plug-in” electricity which in Utah still uses coal for electricity generation
Can the project be replicated? yes
If Ecotrikes or similar vehicles were to be produced in large quantities and adopted in urban areas, a significant reduction in air pollution would result.
Replication of this project could be extended to other cities and town in the Wasatch Front Area.
Does the project target innovative emissions-reduction strategies? yes
The Sunzeecar developed technology is innovative in emissions-reduction in that it uses the latest high efficiency PV solar technology mated to the best available batteries and hub motors to produce a true zero-emissions vehicle.
Does the project promote community involvement and education? yes
Sunzeecar is very interested in making the wider public aware that travel with zero emissions vehicles using solar power is possible. This project educates people concerned about the environment about the possibility of reducing global warming and emissions.
Does the project utilize new or emerging technologies? yes.
In utilizing 21% efficient solar panels and high powered hub motors this project uses emerging technologies.
Organization and Project Summary
Sunzeecar is a local design firm that has specialized in the design of a highly efficient solar powered electric car. It is truly a zero-emissions vehicle, and it can be hand built from a kit. The project is the most recent work of a highly esteemed, retired University of Utah research professor, although he has not stopped working in his golden years. Rather, he has worked tirelessly to developa true solution to many of the plaguing ills so common in this period of Peak Oil and post recession economic contraction. The vehicle has been licensed through 5 prior prototype iterations, and this model Eco-Trike 16 has also won the approval of the Utah Department of Motor Vehicles. We seek the generosity and far-thinking wisdom of the UCAIR organization to underwrite a portion of the budget created for licensing of this exact vehicle on a national scale through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.