Team
- Rodrigo Palma – Director
- Jorge Reyes Marambio – Coordinador
- Sebastián Díaz – Capitán Eléctrico (Alumno)
- Juan Pablo Zapater – Capitán Mecánico (Alumno)
- Javier Norambuena – Capitán Diseño (Alumno)
Lines Involved
Energy Conversion, Storage, and Electromobility, Solar Energy.
Project Description
The name of the Eolian project comes from stems the importance of wind and aerodynamics in its design. Its main objective is the creation of solar vehicles through the collaboration and training of students, workers and scholars of the Universidad de Chile. The main pillar of the project is the multidisciplinary cooperation of different fields, such as Civil Mechanical Engineering, Civil Electrical Engineering, and Industrial Design, among others.
Furthermore, the project has placed similar emphasis on research for vehicle mobility solution in order to reduce greenhouse gas emission and fossil fuel dependence.
Origin and Contributions
The Eolian Project started in 2007 as an initiative of students participating in the creation of the electrical vehicle “Cuetazo” – RC, Vladimir Ovalle and Professor Rodrigo Palma, whose objective was to create the first solar vehicle in Latin America and the Caribbean. Due to the various construction necessities –construction, aerodynamics, energy storage and traction–, it was decided that they should summon students from other careers, such as Civil Mechanical Engineering, Civil Electrical Engineering and Industrial Design, in order to establish a network of multidisciplinary knowledge.
Once the vehicle was built, the team participated in the 2007 World Solar Challenge, repeating the experience in 2011, where it was chosen among the fifteen best projects. Furthermore, the Eolian participated in the Atacama Solar Challenge in 2011, 2013, and 2014. Its best ranking in this competition was second plance.
Currently, Universidad de Chile students are working on the fourth version of the vehicle with the support of the CE-FCFM. The two-seater model now being developed intends to offer real vehicle mobilization solutions.
The Eolian project has been economically and technically developed thanks to contributions by Universidad de Chile, its students, and vehicle related companies.