We are dedicated to paving the way for a cleaner, more efficient tomorrow. We believe in nurturing talent, fostering creativity, and empowering individuals to push the boundaries of what's possible in the realm of electric vehicles. Join us and become part of a team that's shaping the future of transportation, one innovation at a time. Together, let's drive towards a brighter, greener future.
Convert a class 7 diesel Peterbilt 337 truck into an all-battery electric vehicle within a 4-year timeline, utilizing 6-stage Technology Readiness Level (TRL) method.
Provide students hands-on automotive and battery electric engineering experience that mirrors real-world industry practices.
Develop an alternative to sustainable transportation among commercial vehicles by leveraging available technology on the market.
The first year focuses on creating digital models of the existing truck's systems, including its electrical and controls architecture, along with a computer-aided design (CAD) model for the body of the truck. Students also conduct market research on other battery-electric vehicle (BEV) trucks to aid in component selection and performance criteria development that together will make up a retrofitting package.
Models of the existing truck with new BEV features will then be consolidated and undergo verification through simulation tools. Then, selected components for the truck conversion will be purchased and bench tested before students begin integrating them into the existing truck.
Once component integration is complete, students will conduct unit testing and systems testing. They will verify that new BEV systems integrate seamlessly with the original, unaltered truck systems and that everything functions as it should. At the end of Year 3, vehicle validation processes will assess whether or not the truck meets all Department of Transportation (DOT) standards and regulations.
The final year of the E-Truck Challenge conducts a series of stress tests on the electric Peterbilt 337. By stress testing the truck in a multitude of unfavorable conditions, such as hot and cold weather, extreme loading, and long ranges, students can validate that the truck has hit all Success Criteria defined during Year 1. The truck will then be driven up to the PACCAR Technical Center (PTC) in Mount Vernon, WA, marking the culmination of E-Truck's four years of hard work.
