05-18-95 Electric Race Car on Display

                          NEWS ADVISORY:
        OSU ELECTRIC RACE CAR ON DISPLAY AT RIFFE CENTER

After shattering the track record for an electric vehicle during
its most recent time trial, The Ohio State University's electric
race car will be on public display at the Riffe Center, 77 S.
High Street, Columbus, from noon to 8 p.m. on Tuesday (5/23), and
8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Wednesday (5/24).  The display is part of
Electric Expo, an exhibit designed to showcase innovations in
Ohio's electric industry.

The electric race car is the result of an innovative design
project for engineering students at Ohio State's Center for
Automotive Research (CAR).  OSU is one of about a dozen
universities involved in designing Formula Lightning vehicles.
Each university fields an entry whose chassis, tires, suspension
and body are identical, but whose electric drives, battery packs
and drive trains are student-designed.

Electric vehicle technology, which fuses the automotive and
electric utility industries, has a bright future, according to
Giorgio Rizzoni, assistant professor of mechanical engineering
and head of the race car project.  "Our students get to deal
with the hands-on aspect of engineering, not just the theory,"
he said.  "Their work will play a role in the advancement of
electric car development."

The OSU vehicle established a new track record of 98 miles per
hour during time trials at the EV (electric vehicle) competition
at Richmond International Raceway on May 5.  The Formula
Lightning/University Spec race, showcasing university-designed
electric vehicles, was the featured event.

Despite a promising time trial and first two-thirds of the race,
the Ohio State vehicle finished the race in fifth place, after
one of two battery packs failed, requiring an unscheduled pit
stop.  Professional race driver Craig Taylor surpassed his
earlier speed record with a 100-mph sprint on the final two laps
but came in behind Case Western Reserve University and Bowling
Green. Taylor drove the car to a first place win at the 1994
Indianapolis Raceway Park race.

The vehicle races again next on July 22, at the Burke Lakefront
Airport in conjunction with the Cleveland Indy Grand Prix racing
weekend.

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Contact: Giorgio Rizzoni, Center for Automotive Research and 
Department of Mechanical Engineering, (614) 292-3331.


[Submitted by: Von Reid-Vargas (ereid@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu)
               
Thu, 18 May 1995 12:06:38 -0400]
All documents are the responsibility of their originator.