{"id":5227,"date":"2012-02-13T12:54:20","date_gmt":"2012-02-13T19:54:20","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/cafe.foundation\/blog\/?p=5227"},"modified":"2012-02-13T13:00:15","modified_gmt":"2012-02-13T20:00:15","slug":"cool-bike-cooler-batteries","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/cafe.foundation\/blog\/cool-bike-cooler-batteries\/","title":{"rendered":"Cool Bike, Cooler Batteries"},"content":{"rendered":"

A few years ago, Purdue University students Jim Danielson and Sean Kleinschmidt, helped launch the Purdue Electric Vehicles Club with physics major Tony \u201cDanger\u201d Coiro, who had created his own solar-powered motorcycle <\/a>from a 1978 Suzuki he purchased for $50. Coiro drove around on his sun-mobile for less than one cent per mile.<\/p>\n

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His middle name is "Danger." Tony Coiro and his solar Suzuki.<\/p><\/div>\n

Just out of high school, Danielson and Kleinschmidt found another frugal ride, a 924 Porsche for a mere $500. The blown engine wasn\u2019t a problem, since they replaced it with an electric forklift motor, controller and battery. The looks were great, although the poky top speed and lackadaisical acceleration strained against the image.<\/p>\n

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Kleinschmidt and Danielson with their elegant Porsche 924 - powered by a forklift motor<\/p><\/div>\n

Their initial success sent Kleinschmidt to a summer internship at Tesla where he worked on battery development and Danielson to Electro-Motive Diesel, where he helped create motor control electronics.<\/p>\n

besides founding the EV club, the trio oversaw construction of the 17 electric race karts that students built for the first-ever electric vehicle grand prix<\/a>, held at Purdue in 2010.\u00a0\u00a0This has grown to become a significant part of Speed Week at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.<\/p>\n

From a humble, low-budget club, the Purdue University EV club has fostered some major attractions. Two major evGrandPrix racing events to be held in the Spring of 2012. The first race will be held on Saturday, April 28th at the Grand Prix Race Track on Purdue Campus (West Lafayette).<\/p>\n

Two weeks later, the 2nd International Collegiate evGrandPrix will take place at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Saturday, May 12th. \u00a0As the EV team notes, \u201cRacing teams will compete on the IMS infield before the Indianapolis 500 race on a course near the IMS Hall of Fame Museum.\u201d<\/p>\n

Tony Coiro was right when he said, “Purdue Electric Vehicles will encourage enthusiasm for, and knowledge and development of, electric vehicles by students and the community.”<\/p>\n

Aside from their Purdue ventures, Kleinschmidt and Danielson recently created a new and potent motorcycle <\/a>that is fast and has great range, receiving cooperation and material support from AllCell Technologies, a Chicago-based battery and battery protection manufacturer.<\/p>\n