SolarCarTeam

MichiganTechnologicalUniversity

BusinessPlan

CompanyDescription
MissionStatement TheMichiganTechSolarCarTeamsMissionisTouseinnovationinsolartransportation technologytoeducatepeopleregardingthefeasibilityandsustainabilityofsolarenergy generation. Vision Tobeacompetitivesolarcarteam BeahighlyeffectiveandefficientEnterpriseteam Bevocaladvocatesofrenewableenergytechnologywithemphasisonsolarenergy Providerealworld,handsonexperienceforstudents Establishaninfrastructuretoallowlongevitybeyondthefirstgenerationofcontributors Objectives ProduceaworkingsolarvehicleforcompetitionintheShellEcoMarathonbyAprilof2011 Increasevisibilityonandoffcampustoallowforeducationalopportunities Beinvolvedinsolarenergydialoguewithothersolarteamsandindustry KeystoSuccess Increaseteammembershipandskilldiversitywithagoalofaddingatleast6newteam membersbythespringof2010. Obtaindiversifiedsponsorshipbyworkingwiththeenterpriseprogramtohavepartialfunding of$10,000byMarchof2010. Acquirenecessaryskillsandexperiencewithmanufacturingprocessesinvolvedinthe productionofasolarcar History TheMichiganTechnologicalUniversitySolarCarTeamwasfoundedinJanuaryof2009asa projectwithintheAlternativeFuelsGroupEnterprisebroughtonbythedesireofstudent BrennanTymraktousesolarenergyfortransportationpurposes.Withanoriginalgoalof investigatingthefeasibilityofcreatingacompetitivesolarcarteamoncampus,teammembers researchedtheNorthAmericanSolarChallengeincludingtechnicalandlogisticalaspectsaswell ascosts.TheteamcametotheconclusionthatcompetitionintheNorthAmericanSolar Challengewasnotcurrentlyafeasibleoptionfortheteam.Inthefallof2009,theSolarCar teamlearnedoftheShellEcoMarathonasamuchmoreviableoptionfortheteamscurrent financialandtechnicalsituation.Withagoalofcompetinginthe2011EcoMarathon,theteam iscurrentlyresearchingthecompetition,designingvehicleconcepts,andworkingtoincrease teammembership.

 OrganizationandManagement
Organization TheMichiganTechSolarCarTeamhasbaseditsorganizationuponthestandardMichiganTech enterpriseorganizationalmodel.TheteamoperatesasanentityoftheAlternativeFuelsGroup Enterprise,buthasitsownmanagement.Ourorganizationalmodelconsistsof:

Enterprise Advisor

Mechanical SubTeamLeader
TeamMember TeamMember TeamMember

Electrical SubTeam Leader Team Member Team Member Team Member

Project Leader

Business SubTeamLeader
TeamMember TeamMember

ProjectLeaderTheprojectleaderisthesinglepersonwholeadstheteamandcoordinates operations.Theymanagetheteamasawholeandareresponsibleforinformingtheenterprise advisorabouttheprogressofthegroup.Theymustensurethatallsubteamsarestayingon trackandthattheprojectiskeepingtothescheduletomakesuretheteammeetsthedeadline. Communication,organization,leadership,anddedicationexemplifythenecessarytraitsfrom theprojectleader.Theprojectleaderisalsoamemberofasubteamandperformsthevarious technicaltasksassociatedwiththesubteam. SubTeamLeadersThesubteamleadersforthethreedifferentsubteams,mechanical, electricalandbusiness,areresponsiblefortheirprogressoftheirrespectivesubteams.They managetheirsubteammembers,aswellasworkonthesubteamsprojectswiththeteam members.Theymustcoordinatewithothersubteamleaderstomakesurethatdesignsare compatibleacrossthedifferentaspectsofthesolarcar.Theyarealsoresponsibleformaking suretheirteamhasthenecessaryresourcesneededtocompletetheirtasks.Subteamleaders

reporttotheprojectleaderabouttheirprogressandwithanyneedsorconcernstheymay have. TeamMembersAllreturningteammemberswillcontinuecompletingtheirtasksasdefinedby theirsubteamleaders.However,newteammemberswillberesponsibleforupdatingthe MichiganTechSolarTeamsbusinessplanalongwiththeirotherresponsibilities.Byupdating thebusinessplaneachsemesterthisensuresthattheplanisuptodateandreflectsthecurrent goalsandstrategiesoftheteam.Italsoallowsforthenewmemberstobecomeacquainted withthehistoryandphilosophybehindtheMichiganTechSolarCarteam.Thisprocesswill requirethenewmemberstobecomeacquaintedwithallofthedifferentaspectsofteam managementandoperationbyinterviewingtheteamleadersandprojectleaderaboutthe goalsforthenextsemester.Thehopeisthatwiththisprojectthenewmemberswillfeelthat theyhavesomestakeinthesuccessoftheteamanditwillgivethemtherequiredbackground tooperatesuccessfullywithintheteam.

ManagementProfiles WhiletheSolarCarteamisanewproject,themanagementteamishighlymotivatedtomake theprojectasuccess.Duetotheircurrenteducationalstatus,theyhavetheknowledgeand skillsnecessarytopropeltheprojecttoasolidstartwhileobtainingthespecifictechnicalskills neededtocontinuetheprojectsprogress.Themanagementalsohastheinterpersonalskills requiredtobringnewteammembersuptospeedontheprojectaswellassharetheirskills. BrennanTymrakProjectLeader Major:MechanicalEngineering Minor:ElectricalEngineering Year:3rd BrennanstartedtheSolarCarteamthroughadesiretohaveasolarpowerprojectoncampus. HispersonalinterestinrenewableenergyhasmadehimentirelycommittedtotheSolarCar Teamanddedicatedtoitssuccess.Throughpastleadershipofengineeringteams,hehas developedtheskillsnecessarytoleadtheteamtoachieveitsgoals. DanSallenMechanicalSubTeamLeader Major:MechanicalEngineering Year:3rd DanjoinedtheSolarCarteamoutofaninterestinrenewableenergyandthewanttoapplythe skillsandknowledgeobtaininclassestorealworldproblems.Hehasdisplayedhardworkethic bypickinguptheslackonpreviousengineeringteamstoensurethattheprojectswere completedtothenecessaryqualitystandards.Hisexperiencethroughworkinthebusiness industrybringsanimportantskillsettotheteam.

BenMarkelTeamMember Major:ChemicalEngineering Year:1st Benhasjoinedtheteamasafreshmanandisexcitedaboutbeingontheteam.Hiswillingness toassistwithallaspectsoftheprojecthasbeenanimportantassettotheteamduetoitssmall numberofmembers.AsBenfurthershisknowledgebasethroughclassesandexperienceon theteamhewillplayaneverincreasinglyimportantrole.

DescriptionofProduct

TheMichiganTechnologicalUniversitySolarCarTeamisworkingtodevelopacompetitivesolar carforracingintheShellEcoMarathonyearly.Thesolarcarisnotsimplyaproductionvehicle withsomesortofsolarelectricassist.Itisahighlystreamlinedandefficientmachinethatis drivenentirelythroughelectricwheelmountedmotorsandchargedonlybysolarcellsaffixed totheshellofthevehicle.Careistakenduringthedesignandmanufacturingprocesstoensure thatthevehicleisaslightinweightaspossibleandthatrollingresistanceisminimized.Whenin operation,thevehicleisassistedbycomplexmathmodelstoensurethemostefficientuseof thepowergenerated.ToachieveallofthistheTeamisacquiringandwillutilizeexpertise withintheareasofsolarcelltechnologyandvehicledynamicstodelivertheoptimalvehiclefor participationwithintheEcoMarathon. Ourcurrentdevelopmentstageisthatofformation,continuedresearchandpreliminary modeling.Previouslywecompletedaninvestigationintowhatittakestocompeteinsolar racingandwhattypesofraceswereoutthere.Weestablishedaroughestimateforourbudget andpresentedittoouradvisortoestablishthefeasibilityofcreatingasolarcarteamat MichiganTech.Weweregivenapprovaltoproceedwiththeprojectandhavenowcompleteda preliminarymathmodelforpowergenerationandvehicledynamicsalongwiththeoutershell andsolarcellplacementmodelinUniGraphicsNX5.

MarketAnalysis

TheSolarCarteamscompetitionfallsintotwocategories:technicalcompetitionattheevent andmonetarycompetition. Ourcompetitionintheraceisprimarilyothercollegelevelengineeringteams.Thisisduetothe highleveloftechnicalexpertiseandmonetaryinvestmentrequiredtobecompetitive.These factorslimittheinclusionofhighschoollevelteams,althoughafewteamsdoexist.Atthe sametimethespeed,weight,andpracticallimitationsimposedbytheraceguidelinesdonot makethisraceattractiveforlarger,professionallevelsolarteams.Thislimitsourfieldof competitiontogroupswiththesamelevelofexperienceandaccesstocapitalasourselves. Lastyeartherewerethreeteamscompetinginourbracketwithintherace.

 MonetarycompetitioncomesfromothersolarteamsintheEcoMarathon,solarteamsinother competitions,andotherenterpriseteamsatMichiganTech.Duetothelargercostsassociated withsolarracingwhencomparedtoothercollegelevelprojects,solarteamsrequireeither greatersponsorinvestments,oralargerpoolofsponsors.Thisneediscompoundedasmore solarteamsreachouttothesamesponsors.TheMichiganTechSolarCarteamwouldbethe fourthteamtoentertheEcoMarathonsolardivision.Whilethisisasmallnumber,itdoesnot representthetotalnumberofcompetitivesolarcarteamsintheUnitedStates.Approximately 20otherteamscompeteintheNorthAmericanSolarChallenge(NASC),amuchlargerand moreexpensivecompetitionrequiringevenmoresponsorshipcommitment.Wehavechosen tocompeteinthelessexpensiveEcoMarathontoallowforlessfinancialcommitmentfromour sponsorswhilestillproducingaqualityvehicle.Thisallowsustobeflexiblebynotbeas committedtoacostlydesignaswellasrequiringustousefundsinthemostefficientway possible. Otherenterpriseteamsoncampusconstituteamajorportionofourcompetitioninboth moneyandhumanresources.Currentlythereare32enterpriseteamsatMichiganTechwith fourteamsparticipatinginvehicledesigncompetitionsandatleastfiveteamswithprojects involvingrenewableenergyandfuelefficiencyotherthantheAlternativeFuelsGroup Enterprise.TheSolarCarteamiscurrentlytheonlysolarbasedvehicleprojectoncampus.This meansweareuniqueindirectlyusingalternativeenergyfromthespecificpurposeofpowering acar.Whileotherenterpriseteamshavebeenestablishedforanumberofyearsandsecureda sponsorbase,theSolarCarteamisnewandhasnobasetodrawfrom.Whilethiscreatesa challenge,italsoisanopportunitytoopenupnewcommunicationchannelswithbusinesses thathavenotbeensponsorsofanyMichiganTechprojectbeforeandallowsustocreateanew linkwithdifferentareasofindustry.

MarketingStrategy

Ourprimarymarketinggoalistoraisefundsorobtainmaterialdonationsthatcangotowards theconstructionofoursolarcarandultimatelytheparticipationofourteamintheShellEco Marathon.WewilldothisbyworkingwiththeMichiganTechEnterpriseprogramtosolicit companiesinthelargerengineeringandmanufacturingcommunitywhomaybeinterestedin ourproject.Fortheirdonationswearepreparedtoofferoursponsorsmanyadvertising opportunitieswithourteam.Theseopportunitiesincludedecalsonthesideoftheactualsolar car,logoplacementonourteamwebsite,logoplacementonanyposterswepresenttothe community,recognitioninanyliteraturewemayputoutregardingsolarracingandcardesign, companynameonteamshirtsforinshoporatcompetition,logosalongsiderecruitmentslides tobeshownbeforeweeklyTechmovies,signageatrecruitmentdrives,andfinallylogo placementonourproofofconceptR/Csolarracer.AlsotheTeamisopentoanyrequestbythe sponsorforanyadvertisingtheymaywanttoutilizeregardingthesolarcarandtheTeam.

Anotherkeyaspecttoourmarketingstrategyisinhowwewillgoaboutmeetingour recruitmentgoals.Thisisagreatopportunityforearlysponsorstogettheirnamesinfrontof futureengineers.Weplantorecruitheavilyoverthenextyear.Ourinitialgoalistoexpandour grouptoatleasteightindividualswithvariedskillsetsbythenextsemester.Weplantodothis bycreatingthesignageforourlargerAlternativeFuelsGrouprecruitmentdrivesowecanmake surethatourprojectisveryvisible.Atthesametimeweareplanningtoputoutdirected recruitmentposterstoeachofourtargetaudiences,mechanicalengineers,electricalengineers, andbusinessmajors.Eachposterwithbedesignedtoemphasizetheaspectsoftheprojectthat eachmajorwouldbeinvolvedinandtheirimportancetotheTeam.Theposterswillthenbe placedaroundtheareaswherethemajorityoftheclassesforeachtargetedmajorarelocated. Thiswillhopefullycatchtheinterestofthetypesofmajorswearelookingforandgetthemto cometotheAFGrecruitmentmeetingwherewewillpitchourprojecttothem.Alsobytheend oftheschoolyearweareplanningtocompleteaproofofconceptR/Csolarcartogainsome experienceworkingwiththesolarcellsandatthesametimeusethatminiprojectasan advertisingtoolinourcontinuedrecruitmentefforts.Atthatpointourrecruitmentstrategy mightincludeusingourR/Csolarconcepttodrivearoundcampuswithsignageadvertisingour meetingtimeandplaceaswellasoursponsorinformation.Thiswillgeneratecuriosityabout ourenterpriseaswellasprovidinginformationaboutusandthepotentialforearlyand continuedsponsorshipadvertising. Oncewehaveattainedourdesiredhumanresourcelevelswewillfullyinstituteourpersonnel managementplanasdescribedinthemanagementsection.Thiswillallowforadefined structureandassignrolesthatfacilitatetheaccomplishmentofourgoals.

SummaryofStartupCosts
System
Chassis

Component
4130ChromolySteel ShocksFoxShoxDHX5.0 MichelinTiresfromShell Brakes

Quantity
3 6 2 300 300 4 12 1 1

Price
$1,800 $1,200 $270 $240

SolarArray

SolarCells SolarCellEncapsulation MPPT

$6,750 $8,250 $4,000

BatteryPack

BatteriesKokamSLPB

Motor

MotorNGMInHubMotor MotorControllerTritiumMotor Controller

Body

$3,000 $1,000 $5,380

Kevlar,CarbonFiber,Nomex Honeycomb

$6,000

Logistics

RegistrationFee TravelVehicles,Gas,Lodging TravelAllowance(over2001miles) TeamTShirts

10

$0 $7,090 ($1,500) $120

Workspace Miscellaneous ElectronicComponentsBattery protection,telemetry,custom circuits,etc. VariousRequiredComponentsSeat Belt,Horn,Steeringwheel,etc. Tools Startertoolsw/rollingbox Lockingtoolcabinet SpecializedTools Total

$2000 $3,000

$500

$400 $600 $1,500 $51,600