Mechatronics Research Group UNN

INTRODUCTION TO ELECTRIC VEHICLE (EV) PROJECT TEAM   The Electric Vehicle sub-team of the Mechatronics Research Group, University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) was formed in February, 2019 in response to a challenge posed to three Nigerian Universities towards local development, manufacture and commercialization of low cost, environmentally friendly and sustainable electric vehicles for campus shuttle and electric tractor for mechanization of small holder farmers, by the National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC), Abuja. In UNN, the then Vice Chancellor, Prof. Benjamin C. Ozumba was quick to respond to the challenge by empowering the Mechatronics Research Group to immediately embark on producing an electric car for campus shuttle within six weeks to prove the potentials of UNN in that regards. The team successfully completed the production of the five-seater electric vehicle within the set time period which was officially unveiled in the presence of the UNN admin...

THE EV PROJECT TEAM PROFILE The Organizational diagram of the EV Team Brief Profile of Individual Key EV Team Members OZOEMENA ANI Coordinator and Team Leader  COREN Registered Engineer R.Eng; Visiting Scholar, Michigan State University, USA; Ph.D, Mechatronic Engineering, Harbin Engineering University,China; M.Eng. Agricultural Engineering-Power Systems and Machinery,University of Nigeria Nsukka; B.Eng. Agricultural Engineering-Power Systems and Machinery, University of Ilorin.  Skills Programming, Computations and Simulations with MATLAB; Systems Modelling and Optimization; CAD/CAM/CNC for Product Development and Manufacturing; 3D-Modeling and Dynamic Simulations using Pro-Engineer or Solid Works; 3D-Printing and Rapid Prototyping; Machine Vision Systems Development; Research Writing and Editing; Analytical and Clear Thinking Ability; Strong Organization and Leadership Ability; Team Player.  Research...

The idea of a pilot scheme of electric vehicle (EV) for campus shuttle in Nigerian Universities was initiated by the National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC) Abuja. In the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, the project was inspired and funded by the then Vice Chancellor, Prof. Benjamin C. Ozumba, and coordinated by Dr Ozoemena Ani. The Vice Chancellor aimed at demonstrating the capability of UNN to pioneer EV research and development, when he mandated the Mechatronics Research Group to immediately embark on the production of the electric car for campus shuttle within six weeks. Most of the materials and components were sourced locally from places like Nnewi and Onitsha. Some of the pictures taken on July 8th, 2019 during the unveiling of the electric vehicle named after the Vice Chancellor as “Lion Ozumba 551” are presented below:

BUSINESS PLAN FOR FURTHER DEVELOPMENT, UP-SCALING AND COMMERCIALIZATION OF EV LION OZUMBA 551  Modes of collaboration  · Universities · Government  · Private sectors (organizations and companies)  · Hybrid  Collaborations could come at any level on the road map described below to facilitate development.  Road Map  Level 1: UNN Campus Shuttle (Zik’s Flat to Engineering)  · Upgrading the Lead-acid battery to Lithium- ion for increased duration   · Strengthening mechanical links and joints for more stability  · Deploying for intra campus shuttle (Zik’s flat to Engineering)  · Continuous research and study on operational characteristics and parameters  Level 2 : Further development and Optimization for UNN shuttle up scaling to 5 or 10 units  · Optimization from research results  · Specialized study f...