Human-Electric Hybrid Vehicle

The goal of the Dragon Wagon project was to create a human-electric hybrid vehicle that derives its power both from human riders and from an electric motor.  The project was a Senior Design Project, undertaken by fifteen Drexel University Seniors in both the Mechanical Engineering and Materials and the Electrical and Computer Engineering departments.  Dr. Bradley Layton, a professor in the MEM department at Drexel University, served as the primary adviser on the project.  John Tetz and Rich Sadler of the Metro-Area Recumbent Society (MARS), both experienced builders of recumbent bicycles and tricycles, aided in the design and construction of the vehicle.

Goals

The goal of the Dragon Wagon Project was to create a low-cost, zero-emissions alternative to the automobile, specifically for use in urban environments.  The performance targets for the vehicle were designed such that it would be able to fully integrate with urban traffic.

  • Accelerate the vehicle from 0 – 35 mph in time comparable to that of a traditional automobile.
  • Maintain a top speed of at least 35 mph.
  • Have a braking distance comparable to that of a traditional automobile.
  • Have a turning radius comparable to that of a traditional automobile.

Results

The resulting vehicle competed in the ASME Human Powered Vehicle Challenge (HPVC) competition in Madison, Wisconsin in April, 2008.  The vehicle participated in four events:  a design competition, a sprint, an endurance race, and a utility competition.  Among the three entries for the sprint competition in the multi-rider category, the Dragon Wagon came in first place, posting a top speed of 21.1 MPH.

The teams that created the Dragon Wagon also participated in Drexel University College of Engineering’s Senior Design competition.  The team was chosen as the first interdisciplinary team to participate in the competition.  The Dragon Wagon team won third place in the competition.

Extensive information about the vehicle can be found on the official Drexel Dragon Wagon WIKI.