Mak students are at it again. The first developers of Kiira EV (officially known as the Kiira EV Proof of Concept -PoC) have come up with an improved version dubbed Kiira EV SMACK. The Kiira EV SMACK addresses limitations identified in the Kiira EV PoC such as duty cycle, and seating capacity. Unlike the first Kiira EV, which only relied on its batteries, the Kiira EV SMACK is powered by a rechargeable battery bank and a generator set for propulsion and battery charging, making it a self-sustaining system. Under the same project, the inovative students are developing an improved version of Kiira EV SMACK called Kayoola EV, a 37-seater solar electric bus. Kiira EV SMACK is a five-seater hybrid electric vehicle.
The Kayoola solar electric bus is powered by 240 Lithium Ion cells packaged as two battery banks, one running the motor at a time. It can cover 80km before the next charge. The bus will also have a rack of solar panels on its roof, to harvest solar energy to charge the batteries.
The students were concerned that the first Kiira EV would become a challenging concept to adopt given its range limitations. It takes about four hours to charge fully then hit the road for 80km, before going for another full charge. So, a journey of 160km would take nearly six hours to accomplish.
An artistic impression of the bus
The students had interesting ideas, and as such were invited by the project to participate in the development of the Kiira EV hybrid. This was part of the initiative by the project to offer hands-on internship opportunities to the younger generation of budding science and technology innovators.
Team behind vehicles
The high-powered engineering team developing the Kiira EV SMACK is comprised of Prof Sandy Stevens Tickodri-Togboa, Paul Isaac Musasizi, Albert Akovuku, Arthur Tumusiime Asiimwe and Vanessa Nakalanzi in management side.
The others are Pauline Korukundo, Doreen Orishaba, Victor Tumwine, Dennis Kibalama and Asaba Emmanuel Busobozi, who comprise the Vehicle Electronics and Information Systems team; Fred Matovu, Africa Junior, Edgar Mugabi and Mwesigwa Enock Treasure who are part of the Powertrain and Charging Infrastructure team; Jonathan Kasumba, James Byansi and Nakimuli Thatcher Mpanga, who are part of Industrial Design team; and Brian Kaweesa, Ian John Kavuma, Patience Petua Bukirwa and Moses Muyanja, who make the Mechanical Engineering team.
Final touches
When we visited, the team was making a final fit on the Kiira EV SMACK’s body before the interior furnishing is reinstated and the car subjected to a punishing road test in the weeks ahead.
“We intend to subject the car to a cocktail of tests to validate the realization against the prescribed specifications and design targets,” Musasizi told us.
He added that once the team is satisfied with the test results, the car would be ready for unveiling. The bus will also be subjected to road tests after completion of its body development.
“Yes we are likely to have two new vehicles come out this year … but the five-seater will be out first, followed a few weeks later by the bus,” Musasizi explains.
Source: The Observer
