Thursday, December 4, 2014

EIC Team Looking for EEs

I'm Henry Kellogg, an ME undergraduate senior and the owner of an electric cargo bike business called LionTail Cycles, and I'm looking for people who want to build what I believe will be the best utility bicycle EVER. It would feature an advanced, lightweight carbon-fiber frame; an electric assist with regenerative braking; a battery with a 50+ mile range and a 5 year warranty; cargo capacity and even the ability to carry an adult passenger; a powerful light system with turn signals; a wind & rain fairing; a wheelbase small enough to fit on a bus bike rack; and more.

The team would compete in UW's Environmental Innovation Challenge, and would receive $2,000+ of funding, incredible mentorship and networking opportunities, and the chance to win up to $10,000 in prize money.

I have 2 roles that I think would be best filled by an EE major:

Battery Design, Construction, and Management - The bike would use 18650 lithium cells, similar to those used in many electric cars (notably, the Tesla Model S). The Tesla offers an 8 year warranty on its battery pack, while most electric bicycle batteries last less than 3 years - and yet they use very similar cells. I'm looking for someone who will help me select the battery, tune the system to interface with this battery properly, and develop a charging solution that will maximize the battery's lifespan.

Controls - An electric bike contains a motor that assists the rider's pedaling efforts. This motor can be activated in many ways, and very few electric bikes have a smooth, reliable means of motor activation. In addition to motor activation, this bicycle will feature a light system and potentially other electrical components. I'm looking for someone who will help design and implement the controls of this bicycle's electrical components, which include motor, lights, and other parts.
 
EE students can usually earn EE 499 credit for these projects. 

If you're interested, please email me ASAP at henry@liontails.com.