Northwestern University Solar Car Team

SPONSORSHIP BOOKLET
NUSOLAR.ORG

2010-2011

INTRODUCTION
Dear Sponsor, Our mission: To enhance team members preparation for professional and technical careers by designing, building and racing a solar-powered vehicle, and to promote green technology by expanding public knowledge and interest in alternative and efficient energy. In order to build and race a successful solar car, we rely on the help and generosity of corporate partners and sponsors. Your support will directly contribute to our team by: 1) 2) 3) 4) Enhancing the undergraduate engineering experience Helping members become better individuals, professionals and leaders Improving members design, planning and strategy skills Advancing electric vehicle and solar technologies

Following our 3rd place finish at the 2009 Formula Sun Grand Prix track race, the Northwestern University Solar Car Team placed 10th in the 2010 American Solar Challenge, a cross-country race from Tulsa, OK to Chicago, IL. This was the teams first top-ten finish in this event. We are rebuilding the electrical system in our current car to compete in the 2011 Formula Sun Grand Prix, and we are conjointly designing our sixth solar-powered vehicle for the 2012 American Solar Challenge. This packet describes who we are and what we do as well as the assistance we seek in achieving our goals. We hope that you share our vision and can support us in reaching our goals. Sincerely,

We reward our sponsors with extensive publicity coverage and recognition, both in the Chicagoland community and during testing, traveling and racing. We feature all our sponsors on our Web site and publications as well as on our trailer and on the solar car itself.

THE TEAM
Our team consists of approximately 30 student members in disciplines ranging from Mechanical Engineering to Political Science. At our core, we are an engineering research project, but we have broadened our scope to focus on the business and outreach that will sustain our organization. We are supported by four Northwestern faculty: Walter Herbst | Director of the Master of Product Development Program Chi-Haur Wu | Professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Kornell Ehmann | Professor of Manufacturing and Mechanical Engineering Dana Comolli | President, DMAXX, Adjunct Professor of Engineering

GOALS
Our current race goal is to place in the top 3 of the 2011 Formula Sun Grand Prix track event. Our future race goals are to design, construct, and race the best possible vehicle we can to place in the top 3 of the 2012 American Solar Challenge, and to attend our first World Solar Challenge in Australia in 2015. It is our continual goal to educate our members in engineering and business principles and to promote electric vehicle technology and alternative energy.

THE RACES
Formula Sun Grand Prix is a closed-circuit track race where teams circle a short track 8 hours a day for 3 days. This event challenges the car mechanically with sharp, frequent turns and variations in track grade. Strategy for this event is track-based: coordinating passes, minimizing pit times and learning the course. American Solar Challenge is a cross-country race that winds across more than 1000 miles of the United States. This event challenges the efficiency and endurance of the car; teams must optimize power, speed and battery usage, all while ensuring the stability and safety of their cars. Strategy for this event includes adaptation to varying road conditions, weather and traffic. The 2010 course began in Tulsa, Oklahoma and concluded in Chicago, Illinois, garnering major media coverage along the way.

The 2010 American Solar Challenge Route Tulsa, Oklahoma to Chicago, Illinois

REVENUE & EXPENSES

sc5IncomingFunds:BuildCycle20052008
PrivateGiDs;4% Grants;5% Outreach;4% Composites;29% MotorPoolExpenses; 14%

sc5Expenses:BuildCycle20052008
Shipping;1%

RaceFees;4%

NorthwesternUniversity Dona5ons;20%

Reimbursements;17% Mechanical;2% CorporateSponsors;43%

Electrical;17% CorporateInKind Dona5ons;24% TravelReimbursements; 13%

Administra:veExpenses; 3%

FUNDING
Solar cars are very expensive and complex machines. They require significant amount of time to design, as does the manufacturing of individual custom components. Once finished, the cars go through a demanding testing schedule. From lightweight composites to high efficiency solar cells, cutting-edge technology means high costs. High costs, in addition to the raw materials required, tools, facilities, and trip activities all require substantial funds. Our current vehicle, sc5, had a budget of approximately $200,000, and our projected cost of a new car for the 2012 American Solar Challenge is $270,000. Although these costs might seem high, we continually strike a balance between conservative spending and investing in competitive technology because the educational value is priceless. From design to construction, students spend months researching available technology, conducting experiments to determine how best to implement their designs and learning about prototyping and construction. We have spent many hours improving our fundraising techniques and our year-to-year transition processes to help better prepare incoming members and to ensure our team makes continual improvements, both in technical design as well as in daily operations and best practices.

MAJOR COMPONENTS

4 7 5 6

Not shown

Solar Array Solar cells generate the electric energy that powers the car. Current silicon-based solar cell technology converts approximately 21.5% of the suns light into energy. Shell Carbon fiber composites make the shell lightweight and rigid, and slick aerodynamics help minimize drag while maximizing surface area. Frame An aluminum space frame supports the cars components and encloses the driver compartment. Safety is of utmost concern to the team. Motor A high-efficiency DC brushless in-wheel motor rated at just 5 HP converts electric energy into motion and propels the car to 60mph.

Suspension A robust aluminum A-arm suspension optimizes handling while minimizing shock and vibration. Telemetry A sensor network records and wirelessly relays essential data from the car to the support crew, which analyzes it and plans strategy. Batteries The high-density Lithium Ion battery pack stores array energy for use when sunlight is not optimal or available, such as during cloudy weather or at night.

SPONSOR BENEFITS
LOGOS ON SOLAR CAR
PLATINUM: Sponsors donating $10,000+ become platinum level sponsors and have their logos placed on both sides of the car in the most prominent location: the bubble.*

RECOGNITION & GIFTS Sponsor Level

Recognition on nusolar.org & brochures, certificate of donation, & team photo Recognition on trailer

UM TIN PLA 0,000 $1

LD GO 00 5,0 $

NZE ER SILV 500 BRO,000 $1 $2,

GOLD: Sponsors donating $5,000 receive gold-sized logos, to be placed visibly on both sides of the solar car. Gold logos will be twice the size of silver logos.* SILVER: Sponsors donating $2,500 receive silver-sized logos, to be placed visibly on both sides of the solar car.*
* Exact logo sizes will be determined once car design is finalized and all donations are received.

Recognition on team t-shirts Recognition on solar car sides (small) Recognition on solar car sides (large) Recognition on solar car bubble

ADDITIONAL SPONSOR BENEFITS

EXPOSURE & PUBLICITY Media Stops during the Competition -- During the American Solar Challenge, our vehicles traveled across the country from Tulsa, OK to Chicago, IL, making daily media stops at checkpoints along the way. Our sponsors receive extensive visibility. Outreach Events -- We hold many outreach events throughout the year where we display our vehicles and promote our team and our goals to the general public. These include museums, like Adler Planetarium and the Museum of Science & Industry, as well as local high schools, parades, car shows and green technology events. These events offer opportunities for the public to take note of your support of the team. ACCESS TO NU STUDENTS As a sponsor, you gain access to some of the most talented engineers and students at Northwestern. We are eager to find employment, both temporary (internships or co-ops) and permanent. By sponsoring our team, you will have the opportunity to recruit our exceptional members. GREEN IMAGE Environmentalism is a hot topic, and it should be; it affects people worldwide. By sponsoring our team, your company will be furthering research and development of electric vehicles, solar cell technology and other alternative energies. Your support will boost your forward-thinking, green image, while benefitting our planet and reducing our dependence on finite natural resources.

Principal Sponsors:

NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY SOLAR CAR TEAM, c/o Prof. C.H. Wu 2145 Sheridan Road, M309 * Evanston, IL 60208 * team@nusolar.org