Design and Fabrication of an Electric Basic Utility Vehicle

The design and fabrication of an electric basic utility vehicle (BUV) is described. Its main purpose is to serve as a research testbed and a teaching tool for undergraduate classroom projects in engineering and technology. Students adapted the basic design from an electric golf cart and an off-road work truck. Various components were acquired or assembled from stock metal and Unistrut. Various systems like the braking, steering, electrical wiring, passenger area, and pick-up bed were assembled separately for modularity: keeping ease of repair and future upgrades in mind. The final vehicle was tested, and some results are reported here. Besides its academic purpose, the BUV can be used as an outreach tool and, from a utility standpoint, to help with groundskeeping and landscaping activities on campus - helping to reduce the overall carbon footprint of the campus.