COLUMBIA, S.C., The year was 1984. Roger Dougal, a newly minted Ph.D. in electrical engineering, was beginning his career in the University of South Carolina's College of Engineering.
He was the new owner of a 1972 MGB - a red convertible, perfect for life in
the Palmetto State, where he could zip along the highways and city streets
with the car's top down practically year-round. Lightweight with easy
handling, the MGB was a snazzy roadster for a young professor on the go.
But that was, shall we say, soooo last century.
Fast forward about two dozen years. Now internationally recognized for his
research on power sources and systems, Dougal still loves cars and has added a
passion for sailboats. The MGB was collecting dust - and a few leaves - in his
garage. But the professor's ongoing curiosity about all things auto and
electrical meant one thing: He had to find out if he could build an electric
car.
"I've always played with cars as a hobby," said Dougal , who has a touch of
gray in his hair as the years have rolled on. "I bought the car to rebuild it,
but just ran out of time. I decided to do something useful."
He took the car out of retirement and turned it over to electrical engineering
students at the University of South Carolina's College of Engineering and
Computing. He gave them the opportunity to turn the British Leyland Motor
Corp. vehicle into a car of the 21st century - a car not run on "petrol," but
electricity.
And they have. The "Electric MG," as it's called, is a reality.
"It can go really fast for short distances," said Dougal, who estimates that
about $10,000 has been spent in making the changes.
About 15 students have worked on the car since Dougal began the great
experiment, which has left some MGB fans aghast. But the professor was
determined to create an electric vehicle in the machine shop of the College of
Engineering and Computing.
"I said, 'We can do this before GM can,' " said Dougal, who estimates that he
and several groups of students have worked on the project for about 18 months.
"It didn't move along quite as fast as I'd planned. When you think about how
many people are working at the major auto manufacturers, we've probably made
pretty good progress."
But much of the student ingenuity and labor was volunteered. Some students
have received course credit for their work. A few have received payment.
Tyler Price, a senior from Lexington, S.C., is one of the students working on
the car, which has had the convertible top removed and a roll bar added.
The original engine is in Dougal's garage and has been replaced by an AC motor
with a custom driveshaft. In its place is a bank of more than 100
supercapacitors, resembling soft drink cans that have been encased in a
plastic box and loaded into the trunk for the power source. A lithium battery
will be added later and coupled with the supercapacitor bank to improve range
and efficiency.
"The changes take the car from one century to another," said Price. "Like all
projects, it's been an evolution."
The experience has shown Price that electric vehicles can be a reality.
"I believe we're doing something that will be used. We're ahead of the curve.
Only a few universities are doing what we've done," he said.
The car is waiting on some modifications, including a paint job, LED lamps to
replace the headlights, a sports windshield and new carpet. Because it's
electric, the car sounds much like a golf cart. The students want to add
acoustics to give the MGB-EV, as they call it, a sound more closely resembling
a car.
Nevertheless, the car can be driven - just not on a highway yet, Price said.
Dougal and the student team, which includes undergraduate Robbie Motte of
Bonneau and graduate student Steven Kowski of St. Petersburg, Fla., are
looking forward to testing it for speed, acceleration and economy.
"This was a famous British sports car back in its day," said Price, who wasn't
born when Dougal acquired the car. "Now, it will have some fame in another
century."
source: reuters
