Racing Green Endurance - electric cars come of age
Monday 3 December 2012
If you think electric cars are useful only for short hops to the local supermarket, then the journey of the SRZero sports car might change your mind.
Built and driven by engineering graduates from Imperial College London, the battery-powered sports car completed a 71-day, 26,500km drive from Fairbanks in Alaska to Ushuaia in Argentina in 2010.
The project - dubbed 'Racing Green Endurance' (RGB) - is the subject of this year's IET Christmas Lecture at the University of Surrey in Guildford on December 5.
Project leader Alex Schey will reveal the full story of the epic journey and explain how battery-powered vehicles could match their petrol-driven counterparts in terms of power and endurance.
Alex will describe how electric vehicles have the potential to realise a sustainable transport future, without depleting valuable resources for future generations. For the next generation of budding scientists and mechanical engineers in the audience Alex's presentation will demonstrate how the RGE project provides the perfect example of where innovative thinking, science and maths can lead you.
The SRZero was built from existing equipment and costs only one penny a mile to run. It includes a chassis made by British performance-car manufacturer Radical, and can reach a top speed of 200kph.
The car will be on display outside the venue - and will provide a great opportunity to talk to the people involved.
Organised by The Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) Surrey Network and the University of Surrey, the lecture will appeal to interested members of the public and key 4 and 5 students.
The Christmas Lecture is being held on Wednesday December 5 2012 at 7pm in the main lecture theatre, The Management School, University of Surrey, Guildford, GU2 7XH. Entry is free.
Schools attending in groups should contact Jill Rimmer at the University of Surrey on 01483 689943. Everyone is welcome. IET members and non-members should register for tickets at: www.theiet.org/surrevevents
Media Enquiries
Peter La, Press Office at the University of Surrey, Tel: +44 (0)1483 689191, or Email mediarelations@surrey.ac.uk
