Amount of funding awarded
$8,073.58
Budget Report
View budget report.
How the program has supported you
Mark XIV has been a project under continuous development since its inception in 2001 and its revitalization in 2011. The project aims to equip students with relevant technical experiences in composites fabrication, combustion and thermodynamics, aerodynamics, mechanical design, and electrical automotive design. All while emphasizing how engineering choices can impact sustainability, efficiency, and performance.
Support from PAF allows the team to continue developing our gasoline vehicle while also supporting our other two cars, each with their unique energy source. With funding this year we were able to make developments such as a completely new steering system, a new engine sleeve and new camshafts to improve the efficiency of the engine, and an overhaul of the electrical system. PAF funding also allowed us to take Mark XIV to competition, which gave us the chance to validate all of our work and give students an unforgettable experience.
Outcomes
Mark XIV competed in the first on-track SAE Supermileage Competition since 2019. Key elements of the competition included an on-track mileage result, a design report, and an oral design defense. The UBC Supermileage placed 3rd in the combination of design report and oral defense, 2nd in fuel economy, and 2nd overall.
This competition result was thanks to the hard work of our team of 51 students. Team members improved on several major features of the vehicle this year. Notable work includes a completely new steering system with improved handles for the driver, a new electrical system to reduce complexity and mass, and new camshafts to increase engine efficiency.
The work students completed on this vehicle provided students the opportunity to get experience with finite element analysis, material selection, electrical design, and sourcing components for integrated systems. The skills gained can be directly transferred to real-world engineering tasks.
