Established in 2002, Durham University Electric Motorsport (DUEM) team holds the record for the longest running solar car project in the UK. Competing in the biannual World Solar Challenge (WSC) in 2015, the car has already benefited from a £5,000 grant from the Institution.
As DUEM concentrates on outreach with schools and publicity events, as well as pushing on with innovations to the vehicle in 2016, its ultimate focus is returning to Australia to compete in 2017.
The 50-strong team is entirely run and led by students, working outside their academically rigorous degrees. All engineering team members are Student Affiliate members of the Institution. The team includes post-graduate and undergraduate students from a broad mix of disciplines, from engineering to economics. Continuity is provided by a senior academic in the Faculty of Engineering.
The World Solar Challenge (WSC) is a 3,000km solar marathon from Darwin to Adelaide. DUEM’s car, DUSC2015, competed against 45 international teams in 2015, experiencing some of the world’s harshest conditions, which place cars, components and drivers under extreme stress. DUSC2015 was placed 27th.
Team Principal, Oliver Headlam-Morley, commented: “Our Australian adventures were unbelievably rewarding and challenging for all involved.
“The funding that IMechE provided was a crucial cornerstone of our efforts to race in the highest profile solar challenge in the world.
“All the engineering team are members of the IMechE, and are hugely grateful to the Institution for all its support and funding. We look forward to a bright future with IMechE as one of our leading supporters.”
For competition in WSC 2015, the car had a carbon-fibre monocoque design, weighing just 200kg (5m long and 2m wide). The team is one of the few in the world able to custom design and manufacture all components. Nowhere is this better demonstrated than the innovative in-wheel motor design, which is 98% efficient and powers the car up to speeds of 70mph, relying entirely on solar power.
Tobias McBride, an economics undergraduate, leads the DUEM business team. He commented: “After returning from Australia, while our engineers continue to make the car lighter and more efficient, I was committed to rebrand the project. We did it in record time and I am hugely proud of all of the team.”
The team aims to broaden the sponsorship network and maintain a strong existing core of sponsors via regular updates, customising brand awareness and other initiatives to suit particular companies.
In recent months, DUEM has visited schools and colleges to inspire students about engineering challenges and entrepreneurial spirit. From Year 7s to sixth formers and their families, Tobias said the positive reaction the car gets is hugely rewarding in itself, and the team is often amazed at the challenging and incisive questions that many young people ask.
Tobias added: “Our values are ‘Showcase. Educate. Inspire.’ What we are doing is an extraordinary opportunity to showcase the very latest technology, to globally educate about the importance of renewable technology in an environmentally conscious world, and to inspire the next generation of those who dare to think differently.
“Our project enables connections with the very best student engineers and business minds in the country, and allows sponsors to demonstrate their support for British engineering, ingenuity and innovation to the public.”
The car is featured at the London Motor Show 5-8 May at Battersea Park, alongside Tesla and Bloodhound SSC, and at the Science Museum’s ‘Antenna Live’ event 26-28 July.
DUEM continues to expand its outreach programme, travelling around the country with the car to inspire the next generation.
The team welcome discussions from alumni and other individuals interested in sponsoring, as well as individual donations and interest in outreach opportunities with your local school.
Email Tobias McBride at: t.j.o.mcbride@durham.ac.uk to find out more.
You can follow DUEM on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, or visit the DUEM website.