numberonebikeslover
1 kW
Dear All;
It gives me great pleasure and honour to inform you that a group of students namely Zahid, Noor-ul-Islam, Adil and ________, along with their teacher (Mr. Zeshan Ahmad who happens to be my nephew) of the Department of Mechanical Engineering, Sarhad University of Science & Technology visited me at my house on Tuesday the 18th December, 2012, regarding their final year project (electric bike; a project which is a pre-requisite for the completion of their graduation).
These students have not done much of the practical work (only restricted to laboratory) and have been going through the reading and learning and through series of examinations in the laboratory throughout the years of their course work. Nothing like this much practical has been done by them till yet.
It was although a brief presentation by me which lasted for not more than an hour or more but it was a great pleasure to share my set of experiences with such fresh minds to whom this project seemed a lot difficult. It was obviously difficult for them for they have not yet done practical work of this level.
I started from a little introduction of how I began working on such a things and my understandings as a layman. I took it all the way to the limit when I started using it as my office ride as a completely functional bike briefly. They were completely surprised for the fact that I never had any engineering or diploma degree, yet having to have such a successful bike in my credit.
I told them that this project is so vast that it should be considered as a project of Ph.D students at the end of their course work. I explained to them that it involves a number of fields of engineering etc. Mechanical, Electrical, Electronics, Automobile. But I assured them my support and help till the limit I can.
They were interestingly involved in knowing the types of motors that could be used for an electric vehicle. I explained to them how a brushed type motor works and what increases its efficiency and all the relevant definitions and aspects like relation of voltage and rpm, current drawn, stall current and torque produced with facts and figures. It will indeed be a great challenge for them to source a reasonable motor for their project. I intend to help them in re-winding the motor for their need for there is no other person literate enough to do it successfully. An interesting asked by the students was that “why higher voltage? Why not one big battery” I explained to them why higher the voltage and lower the gear and the relationship of torque and speed of a motor in relation to voltage works, in elaborate detail. They were of the view that they have learnt so much in such a short time in a practical situation, having every thing in front of their eyes.
About the controller I explained them the role of a Pulse Width Modulator and how modulation in pulses happen by the 555 IC, and how switching occurs in the MOSFET transistors in an exquisite detail. They were in question about how will they source all the components for the controller. I confirmed them of my support and help in finding the right parts for their project.
It is indeed a practical situation that lets a student know how gearing down a motor will do to the machine. They have certainly been through the theory part but practically applying everything is something very enjoyable and quite a learning experience. Why not put the motor directly to the big gear on the wheel to this question of one of the student I explained by giving the example of a motorcycle that how we start with the first gear to start the bike from stand still where we need a lot of torque which can only be achieved by gearing down an engine to a certain level where it can become useful in stand still situation. I also explained how they can source the simple and common gears, hubs and chains of common bikes available in the market and modify them to suit their needs.
About the batteries they were a bit confused as this part (just like motor) is not studied in Mechanical Engineering. They were astonished to learn that how lead acid batteries behave in charging and discharging situation. When I told them the characteristics of Lithium batteries they started thinking about using them on their bike, but when I explained their cost, fragility and dangerousness they dropped the idea and decided to go with the cheap SLAs.
The same way they were unaware of charging of batteries and other related stuff.
In short, they have learnt a great deal in one lecture and it really made me a very happy man. I have the satisfaction that I have transmitted my part of knowledge that I have learnt through my experiences to the coming generation in such a short time and have promoted the EV industry in my part of the world. I have decided to go with them all the way in helping and supporting them, yet giving them the chance to brainstorm and invent and discover new ways and not putting in their mouth a piece of chocolate rather give them the environment to learn by doing.
I will keep every one posted about the entire proceedings of the series of events in this connection.
Please feel free to comment and suggest.
Yours Respectfully
Naeem
It gives me great pleasure and honour to inform you that a group of students namely Zahid, Noor-ul-Islam, Adil and ________, along with their teacher (Mr. Zeshan Ahmad who happens to be my nephew) of the Department of Mechanical Engineering, Sarhad University of Science & Technology visited me at my house on Tuesday the 18th December, 2012, regarding their final year project (electric bike; a project which is a pre-requisite for the completion of their graduation).
These students have not done much of the practical work (only restricted to laboratory) and have been going through the reading and learning and through series of examinations in the laboratory throughout the years of their course work. Nothing like this much practical has been done by them till yet.
It was although a brief presentation by me which lasted for not more than an hour or more but it was a great pleasure to share my set of experiences with such fresh minds to whom this project seemed a lot difficult. It was obviously difficult for them for they have not yet done practical work of this level.
I started from a little introduction of how I began working on such a things and my understandings as a layman. I took it all the way to the limit when I started using it as my office ride as a completely functional bike briefly. They were completely surprised for the fact that I never had any engineering or diploma degree, yet having to have such a successful bike in my credit.
I told them that this project is so vast that it should be considered as a project of Ph.D students at the end of their course work. I explained to them that it involves a number of fields of engineering etc. Mechanical, Electrical, Electronics, Automobile. But I assured them my support and help till the limit I can.
They were interestingly involved in knowing the types of motors that could be used for an electric vehicle. I explained to them how a brushed type motor works and what increases its efficiency and all the relevant definitions and aspects like relation of voltage and rpm, current drawn, stall current and torque produced with facts and figures. It will indeed be a great challenge for them to source a reasonable motor for their project. I intend to help them in re-winding the motor for their need for there is no other person literate enough to do it successfully. An interesting asked by the students was that “why higher voltage? Why not one big battery” I explained to them why higher the voltage and lower the gear and the relationship of torque and speed of a motor in relation to voltage works, in elaborate detail. They were of the view that they have learnt so much in such a short time in a practical situation, having every thing in front of their eyes.
About the controller I explained them the role of a Pulse Width Modulator and how modulation in pulses happen by the 555 IC, and how switching occurs in the MOSFET transistors in an exquisite detail. They were in question about how will they source all the components for the controller. I confirmed them of my support and help in finding the right parts for their project.
It is indeed a practical situation that lets a student know how gearing down a motor will do to the machine. They have certainly been through the theory part but practically applying everything is something very enjoyable and quite a learning experience. Why not put the motor directly to the big gear on the wheel to this question of one of the student I explained by giving the example of a motorcycle that how we start with the first gear to start the bike from stand still where we need a lot of torque which can only be achieved by gearing down an engine to a certain level where it can become useful in stand still situation. I also explained how they can source the simple and common gears, hubs and chains of common bikes available in the market and modify them to suit their needs.
About the batteries they were a bit confused as this part (just like motor) is not studied in Mechanical Engineering. They were astonished to learn that how lead acid batteries behave in charging and discharging situation. When I told them the characteristics of Lithium batteries they started thinking about using them on their bike, but when I explained their cost, fragility and dangerousness they dropped the idea and decided to go with the cheap SLAs.
The same way they were unaware of charging of batteries and other related stuff.
In short, they have learnt a great deal in one lecture and it really made me a very happy man. I have the satisfaction that I have transmitted my part of knowledge that I have learnt through my experiences to the coming generation in such a short time and have promoted the EV industry in my part of the world. I have decided to go with them all the way in helping and supporting them, yet giving them the chance to brainstorm and invent and discover new ways and not putting in their mouth a piece of chocolate rather give them the environment to learn by doing.
I will keep every one posted about the entire proceedings of the series of events in this connection.
Please feel free to comment and suggest.
Yours Respectfully
Naeem
