Greening the Fairway: Fall’10 – Spring’11
Client: Slate Belt Council of Governments and Air Products and Chemicals Inc.
The 2010-2011 Tech Clinic project is an extension of the previous year’s, during which the group developed a solar-powered low speed vehicle (golf cart). This year’s team aimed to (1) reduce the power requirements of this vehicle, (2) maximize the vehicle’s power potential, and (3) show that it can be an efficient alternative in settings ranging from golf courses to college campuses. We created a business plan to model the benefits of investing in sustainable low-speed vehicles (LSVs) and illustrate existing business potential.
The team has partnered with the Slate Belt Council of Governments and Air Products and Chemicals Inc, the former of which is interested in the project’s potential to bring business and entrepreneurial activity to the Slate Belt region. Air Products sees potential for this project to be expanded into the field of hydrogen fuel and as the starting point for the development of educational programs in the Lehigh Valley. Over the past year, Technology Clinic completed research and preliminary designs for the use of a hydrogen fuel cell, but unfortunately could not complete a hydrogen prototype due to time and monetary constraints. The Technology Clinic instead successfully expanded the solar design of the previously developed solar LSV, doubling the solar energy capabilities of the preceding model.
The Technology Clinic believes solar low speed vehicles have application potential in a variety of settings. We collected empirical data of golf course LSV use, and also Lafayette College’s delivery and maintenance services use of LSVs. We then calculated the energy savings and reduced carbon emissions from switching to solar powered LSVs and determined the solar potential in the various settings. Depending on the area of use, up to 39.57% kWH of savings is attained from utilizing a LSV outfitted with eight 15 W solar panels.
The Technology Clinic also analyzed the solar capabilities of solar charging stations, which provide another option to power LSV’s by solar energy. Using the solar charging station at Metzgar Sustainability Center, the Technology Clinic created a model enumerating the number of 200 W panels needed to power an LSV fleet. We estimate utilizing a solar powered LSV powered from a charging station saves up to an estimated 13,200 kWH per year and avoids 18,876 pounds of carbon dioxide emissions.
The Technology Clinic designed a business plan, centered on retrofitting LSVs with solar panels. The solar design implemented this semester cost an approximated $93.75, at retail price. With current solar retrofitting kits selling at $2,000, we suggest prices ranging from $500 to $1500 to maximize competitiveness and profitability. Our model shows retrofitting LSV’s with solar panels provides a beneficial investment. The model illustrates a payback period of twelve years with a 34% return on investment for carts used for light utility work, and a 33% return on investment with a twelve year payback for carts used in settings with heavier use requirements. With these benefits, the Technology Clinic believes that solar technology will provide concrete economic benefits and is a viable business opportunity.
The Technology Clinic’s work has shown Solar LSVs have significant potential to reduce carbon emissions and create business and entrepreneurship in the Slate Belt. The project also successfully promoted community engagement and created potential for economic growth within the Slate Belt. The Technology Clinic believes the developed model is the best economic option to create business opportunities and reduce carbon emissions. In the future, the team looks to hydrogen for alternative energy applications and is confident that hydrogen fuel cells will be an adequate option to power LSV’s when cost and availability become more feasible.
Students: Claire Brown’12, Ting Chiu’11, Brent Hoagland’12, Chris Kelly’13, Elliot Mitchell-Colgan’12, Zainab Nandawula’11, Alexandra Smith’11
Faculty Facilitators: Dan Bauer & W.A.(Bill) Hornfeck