Vehicle Research Institute

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Vehicle Research Institute

• Western Washington University
• Eric Leonhardt
• Director

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• Vehicle Research Institute Background
• Officially founded in 1975 by Dr. Michael Seal
• Four year program with two undergraduate degree
  options
• B.S. in Industrial Technology
• B.S. in Plastics Engineering Technology/Vehicle
  Engineering Technology
• Post Baccalaureate option for students with an
  engineering degree
• Over 100 students total with 20-30 graduates per
  year
• The VRI challenges students with a project-based
  approach focused on the design, engineering, and
  construction of vehicles, engines and
  transmissions. Students may work on projects
  for industry, funded research, or VRI vehicles.
• Over 40 vehicles produced since Viking I in 1972.
  The VRI has set records from the Australian
  Outback (1990), up Pikes Peak (1992), across
  the Bonneville Salt Flats, and around the
  Indianapolis Motor Speedway (1989). Viking
  vehicles have won awards from the DOE, EPA, Tour
  de Sol, Urban Vehicle Challenge, California Clean
  Air Race, General Motors Sunrayce USA, and the
  Student Engineered Economy Design Rally.

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• Vehicle Research Institute Faculty
• Janet Braun (2007) Assistant Professor. BS, MS
  (Mechanical Engineering), Marquette University,
  MBA, Cardinal Stritch University.
• Steven Fleishman (2006) Assistant Professor. BT,
  MS (Engineering Technology), State University of
  New York MS (Education) State University of New
  York.
• Eric Leonhardt (2002) Director and Associate
  Professor, BA, Whitman College BS, Western
  Washington University MS (Automotive Systems
  Engineering) University of Michigan.
• Michael Seal (1968) Faculty Emeritus, BEd,
  University of British Columbia Med Western
  Washington State College (WWU) EdD, Texas A M
  University

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• Employers Include
• PACCAR, Boeing, CD Zodiac, Janicki Industries,
  Ford, GM, Chrysler, Toyota TRD, Honda HPD,
  Renault F1, Glacier Bay Boats, Brunswick Family
  Boat, Bullfrog, ProCNC, Porsche Engineering,
  Quatro Composites, Renton Coil Springs, Danner
  Corporation, Genie Industries, Microsoft

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• Recent Projects
• Renewable fuel biomethane refinery for dairy
  farms--EPA P3 Phase I and II Award Winner,
  Brilliant Award
• Composite door mold--Saint Gobain and Bentley
  (Audi)
• Composite moldQuatro Composites
• Second (First in N.A.) advanced composite
  automotive assembly jig, used to install every
  hood--Ford Mustang
• Composite kayak for world record attempt--Brandon
  Nelson
• First carbon composite impact attenuatorFederal
  Highway Administration
• Assembly aids--Kenworth

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• EPA People Prosperity Planet
• Award Winner
• April 2007

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Carbon Fiber Impact Attenuator
Six pounds absorbs 100,000 lb impact force
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Ford Mustang Hood Jig Tool
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• Past Projects
• First Four Valve Cylinder headFuji Heavy
  Industries (Subaru)
• First Mazda peripheral port rotary for
  racingMazda
• Thermophotovoltaic power generatorsDept. of
  Defense, Department of Energy
• Natural gas fuel systemsCNG Fuels of Canada,
  FIBA Canning, Ford Motor Company

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Vehicle Projects
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• Vehicle Projects
• Viking 43 Formula SAE (Society Automotive
  Engineers)Student designed, engineered and
  fabricated autocross vehicle to compete with 80
  vehicles from around the world at Fontana Motor
  Speedway, June 2008.
• Viking 44 SAE Mini-Baja--Student designed,
  engineered and fabricated off-road vehicle to
  compete with 80 vehicles from around the world in
  Illinois, May 2008.
• GM EV1 Hybrid Rebuild--Possibly one of only two
  GM electric vehicles operating outside of GM.
  Rebuilt as a plug-in, series hybrid.
• Viking 40--High volume composites technology
  demonstrator. 1100 lbs, 300 hp and 50 mpg.
• Viking 45--Automotive X Prize competitor100 mpg
  with composites technology to enable 10,000
  units/year. EPA tier 2 Bin 5 emissions. Federal
  Motor Vehicle Safety Standards.
• Kitsap Transit Authority Access Bus12 passenger
  bus with seating for 2 wheel chairs or two
  additional passengers. Designed to achieve 20
  mpg with greater performance and safety than
  existing or proposed products.
• Viking 32--Four passenger, parallel hybrid.
  First hybrid fueled with renewable biomethane
  fuel. 50 mpg with 0-60 mphfront impact attenuation. Negative carbon
  emission foot print. EPA PZEV standard.

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Viking 43 Formula SAE
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Viking 41 SAE Mini-Baja
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GM EV1 The Electric Solution
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Viking 40 Chassis
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Viking 40 Body and Chassis Mock-Up
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Viking 32 Biomethane Hybrid
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Viking 40 Goal
Past Vehicles Viking 7
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Viking 21
1st Overall Pikes Peak Solar Electric Challenge

• Solar Array 700 watts
• Parallel Hybrid
• Rear Axle Natural Gas Engine 60 kW
• Front Axle Two Brushless DC motors 20 kW

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Viking 23
77 mpg on diesel 202 mpge calculated by
Department of Energy

• Parallel Hybrid
• Front 50 kW Brushless DC
• Rear 50 kW 3 cylinder Diesel
• Carbon Composite

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Tour de Sol
Thank you!