The REV Project

The technology exists right now to build vehicles which produce no pollution. This is demonstrated every year by the World Solar Challenge, in which extremely aerodynamic and lightweight vehicles traverse Australia using only the power of the sun’s rays. However, these vehicles are impractical for everyday use and don’t resemble the cars to which we are all accustomed. To be accepted by the public, vehicles powered by renewable energy must demonstrate that they’re both environmentally friendly and comparable in comfort, versatility and performance to “regular” and "performance" cars.

• Change peoples’ thinking about their means of transportation
• Make better use of our available renewable energy resources
• Demonstrate that using renewable energy for transport is viable and an attractive alternative to fossil fuels
• Increase the efficiency of the technology and Reduce the cost of the technology through more research

The UWA REV Project will show the viability of using renewable energy in transport, by producing a series of renewable energy vehicles, each with a specific design purpose. Our first vehicle, currently under construction, will be a prototype commuter vehicle, capable of carrying 5 people in comfort over the range of a typical commute. It will be based on a conversion of a production car: the Hyundai Getz, and be powered by an electric motor and battery system that is simpler and more powerful than those in existing cars.

This car will produce no localised greenhouse gases — using solar panels mounted on top of REV headquarters, it will produce clean, free energy to power the car. This sets the UWA REV Project apart from other hydrogen-fuel vehicle research; not only are we designing a vehicle, but we’re also providing the means to fuel it without creating more pollution. To prove its effectiveness, we’ll drive it around Perth and Westerna Australia when completed.

In addition, we’ll construct a performance vehicle (Formula SAE specifications) using many of the design ideas generated in the development of the commuter car. The vehicle will possess all the environmentally beneficial characteristics of its commuter counterpart, but in addition be able to accelerate much more rapidly than similar performance vehicles based on combustion engines.

Our designs might one day be the basis for the technology available in the average home, enabling people to prodcue their own fuel (and more) at nearly no cost. This will provide a kick-start to the electric vehicle industry - the kickstart required to reduce the rates of fossil fuel consumption we experience today.