Issue link: http://georgiancollege.uberflip.com/i/802827
Students at Georgian College have made important contributions to electric vehicle (EV) research thanks to an innovative collaboration between the college, PowerStream and Ford Motor Company of Canada. PowerStream made a $250,000 commitment to install four level 2 charging bays for EVs at the Barrie Campus providing up to 5.8 KW of electricity. Ford Motor Company of Canada and Barrie Ford provided the lease of two vehicles. Bill Rowe, director of product marketing at Ford Motor Company of Canada, says the company plans to spend $4.5 billion on its electrification strategy worldwide, with a goal of 12 new electrified vehicles by 2020. The vehicles at Georgian are used for research and marketing purposes. The AC-max Energi is taken to visits with community partners and to events throughout Ontario, while the Ford Focus Electric is being used in a field study that investigates the advantages and challenges of operating an EV in rural Ontario. The collaboration has provided an excellent opportunity for students to conduct research that is not only important to their education and future job prospects, but to the industry as well. Technology students from all disciplines have been able to learn about EVs, EV charging equipment, renewable energy systems, as well as electrical distribution, protection and control systems through the use of the monitoring and control system while vehicles are charging. "The Ford-Georgian partnership has given me hands-on learning opportunities and the chance to conduct research into the dynamics of electric vehicles and how they perform on the road," says Mechanical Engineering Technology – Automotive Products Design student Ahmad-Hussein Hachem. "This includes work in electric vehicle research, renewable energy and smart grid technology." Students in Computer Studies have also developed a system to track who is using the charging stations at the Barrie Campus. "Electric vehicle drivers don't need a key fob, code or anything special; they just log in through the internet using their licence plate number and register their vehicle to use our chargers at no cost. With this system we're collecting data on the types of people who are using them, how often, and for how long," explains Ron Sky, a professor in Engineering and Environmental Electric vehicles provide powerful experience to Georgian College students Ron Sky, a professor in Engineering and Environmental Technologies (left) and Mechanical Engineering Technology – Automotive Products Design student Ahmad-Hussein Hachem check out the EV charging bay features. Projects have ranged from hands-on technical research to surveys conducted by Research Analyst students. ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY 6 GeorgianCollege.ca/CARI