Member Update: August 07 Newsletter

Posted by David Lee
August 3, 2007

August 3rd, 2007 (Los Angeles, CA): A lot has happened in the past few months. It must have been our most busy quarter ever. I am glad to tell you that the interests in OSGV is really taking off! Our web server has registered 1200 to 1800 page hits per day. And, the number of volunteers has grown to 140+. Most importantly, our first vehicle is beginning to take shape (at least on paper), then after the design review is completed, the next step will be to work with suppliers to build a rolling prototype. Keep up the good work!!

Outreach

We have an RFP open for a test vehicle, which will double as a show car for the upcoming Santa Monica Alt Car Expo and L.A. Autoshow. If you know someone who might be interested in sponsoring our activities, please let us know.

http://www.osgv.org/2007/07/29/request-for-proposal-sponsorship-for-dual-purpose-testdemo-vehicle/

Generally speaking, funding is still a little low. Please don’t hestitate if you are ready to make a donation. Help us spread the news! Tell your friends and classmates about this project.

Demonstration Vehicle Status

Kernel CDV1 Plug-in Hybrid Electric The student teams at Rotterdam University have done a phenomenal job. After Rotterdam University has completed their preliminary layout and principle solution. A clay model has been created and 4 body styles have been proposed using the same aluminum spaceframe.

The Los Angeles team is working on defining the electrical system and the propulsion system. Combining the input from , SSM will present the current design at the upcoming Preliminary Design Review (PDR) - the exact date is yet to be determined.

Please send us an email if you would like to participate in the review, in person or via web conferencing.

Online Forums and Product Data Managemnet System (PDMWiki)

With the help of Matt Campbell from Server Space Solutions, we managed to migrate the entire web site to a new server, cleaned up the forums and moved some of the off-line discussion back online. There are some very interesting discussions and new documentation for your review in our PDM system. Please join our discussions. Your inputs will be greatly appreciated. Please sign up for a forum account, write me an email and I will upgrade your account.

http://www.osgv.org/nfphpbb/index.php

What’s EVEN more exciting is that our experimental Product Data Management System (PDM) is now operational. We have a few CDV1 specs that are created using this new tool. Please review them and give us your comments on the forums.

http://www.osgv.org/wiki/

The Automotive XPrize

Kernel-AXP Team is the official XPrize Contender Some of you might already know. SSM officially enters the Automotive X-Prize (AXP) contest. SSM will have to raise $5 Million USD in public support to develop the 100 MPGe vehicle. AXP has an aggressive schedule that requires teams to deliver working prototypes by 2009. It’s a lot of work for the short two years timeframe but we are already teaming up with other teams and key suppliers to get the job done.