KU News Release

Nov. 19, 2008
Contact: Ian Cahir, School of Engineering, (785) 864-2936.

KU class works to build hyper-efficient car

LAWRENCE — A class of mechanical engineering students at the University of Kansas School of Engineering who dubbed themselves the EcoHawks are creating a vehicle that can get 500 miles per gallon of gas.

The project is part of a class called Design Project Option E, taught by Chris Depcik, assistant professor of mechanical engineering, who previously worked with Detroit’s auto industry at the University of Michigan. He said the goal of the project is to answer some of the big energy and transportation questions of the day in a way that gives students real-world experience beyond mechanical engineering.

“There is a whole car culture out there with vehicles that are not going to be produced as hybrids or as biofuel vehicles,” Depcik said. “When this project is a few years down the road, we want to be able to give people a handbook on how to turn their classic car into an efficient machine.

“Detroit has figured out performance, so efficiency is the big issue now. And with the work these students are doing on this fun, unique kind of project, they will be ready to go into the workforce with a lot of skills they won’t get from sitting in a class with me.”

The EcoHawks have taken on a 1974 Super Beetle donated by Dave Bach, owner of Das Autohaus repair shop in Lawrence, who also has provided a workspace for the team. The project also has major backing from KU’s Transportation Research Institute.

“We’re just in the first year of this,” said Lou McKown, a senior from Lawrence. “We hope that the work we do this year will provide the basis for the next year and so on. Our long-term goal is to make a car that can get efficient fuel anywhere in the country, whether it be electric, ethanol, biodiesel, whatever.”

The course also builds students’ entrepreneurial and interpersonal skills.

“It’s really different to have to learn about raising money or finding a part or talking about the project,” said Sunny Sanwar, a senior from Lawrence. “But those are the kinds of things that are only going to help me after I graduate.”

The plan, Depcik said, is for each class to build on the previous class’s results.

“This isn’t a project that you want to start from scratch each year because the students are going to learn tips, pitfalls and problems from the last group,” he said. “There are cars now that are running at 60 and 70 miles per gallon. We should be shooting for two or three times that. And I think we’ll get there.”

And eventually, the class hopes to get all the way to 500 mpg.

For more information about the EcoHawks, visit their Web site, www.ecohawks.org.

Student participants are listed below by hometown, major, level in school and, when available, parents’ names and high schools.

DOUGLAS COUNTY
From Lawrence 66044
Sunny Sanwar, senior in mechanical engineering; Lincoln College Preparatory Academy, Kansas City, Mo.

From Lawrence 66049
Lou McKown, senior in mechanical engineering; Downington Senior High School, Downington, Pa.

Matt LeGresley, senior in mechanical engineering, son of Mary LeGresley; Lawrence Free State High School.

JOHNSON COUNTY
From De Soto 66018
Brian Pike, senior in mechanical engineering; Winfield High School, Winfield, Kan.

From Olathe 66061
Caleb Baker, senior in mechanical engineering, son of James Dean and Beverly Baker; Olathe Northwest High School.

From Overland Park 66221
Jason Carter, senior in mechanical engineering, son of Joel Carter; Blue Valley West High School.

NEMAHA COUNTY
From Seneca 66538
Ryan Lierz, senior in mechanical engineering, son of Melanie Lierz; B & B High School, Baileyville, Kan.

SEDGWICK COUNTY
From Wichita 67209
Gavin Strunk, junior in mechanical engineering, son of Richard Strunk; Bishop Carroll High School.

SHAWNEE COUNTY
From Tecumseh 66542
Charles Sprouse III, senior in mechanical engineering, son of Chuck and Sonia Sprouse; Hayden High School.

MEXICO
From Monterrey
Carlos De Zamacona, senior in mechanical engineering; Monterrey Institute of Technology and Higher Studies.

THAILAND
From Bangkok
Chanyut Kayaygij, senior in mechanical engineering.

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