University Students Build Electric ATV

Lucas Cooney
by Lucas Cooney
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According to a report from the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner, mechanical engineering students at the University of Alaska Fairbanks have built an electric-powered ATV for the University Police Department.

Using a pair of 2002 Suzuki Eiger ATVs and a budget of $4,500, a dozen students and teacher Michael Golub constructed an all-electric vehicle.

The vehicle is powered by a seven-inch diameter electric motor and a 45-volt lithium battery pack. Together, this combination takes up roughly the same space and weighs less than the engine and gas tank in the stock Eiger.

Golub figures the ATV will be able to travel for about 30 miles at 20 mph. Hardly neck-snapping speed, but good enough for the police to patrol the university campus.

Lucas Cooney
Lucas Cooney

I have been working exclusively in digital media since 1997. I started out with TSN.ca, spending nearly nine years creating and editing content on Canada's leading sports website. I left to join VerticalScope, Inc., one of the world's largest online publishers, to start a number of powersports publications. While at VerticalScope, I've helped create and oversee content for a wide variety of different publications, including ATV.com, Off-Road.com, ArcheryTalk.com, Tractor.com, RVGuide.com, and many more.

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