Team H2politO
Encyclopedia
H2PolitO – molecole da corsa is a Team of italian and foreign students from the Polytechnic of Turin
. These students come from various degree courses (engineering and architecture) and work together on the design
and assembly of a low consumption hydrogen vehicle
– IDRA.
The Team mission is to participate in low consumption competitions for vehicles utilizing alternative energy sources. It also aims to train Engineers by applying theory to practical applications, an innovative approach to learning if compared to the typical lecture-based methods.
Ms. Massimiliana Carello was appointed faculty advisor with the task of following students throughout their activities and supporting the technological and educational aspects of the project. Thanks to the approval of the Dean of the Polytechnic of Turin, Mr. Francesco Profumo, the project took off and the first team was created in 2007. It was made up of 15 students who designed, assembled and tested the first prototype
.
Within the Team, all students are assigned precise roles, tasks and responsibilities like in a real company. Students also take care of the organizational and decision-making aspects of the project.
The professors involved in the project form a Steering Committee, which follows students during their team activities and as supervisors of experimental theses. The Polytechnic of Turin
is the first Italian university to officially recognize this kind of project.
The hydrogen propulsion vehicle IDRA has participated in competitions dedicated to its category – the Shell
Eco-marathon
and the Formula Electric & Hybrid Italy - and will continue to do so. In 2007, it became Project of the year of the Polytechnic of Turin.
The Polytechnic of Turin is the main backer of the project, both financially and structurally. In fact, it provides the laboratories and equipment necessary to assemble and test prototypes. Several major companies are also actively involved. Technical partnerships consist of joint projects between students and firms in order to develop the vehicle. Some companies have also contributed financially to the project.
The Team has a laboratory
within the Mechanical Engineering
department of the Polytechnic (corso Duca degli Abruzzi 24, Turin
) and its headquarters are within the faculty of Automotive Engineering
(via Nizza 230, Turin
).
Eco-marathon
2008, held in Nogaro
(France
) and obtained the following results:
The Team also took part in the Italian competition Formula EHI 2008 (Formula Electric & Hybrid Italy), held in Orbassano
and organized by the Automotive Technical Association - ATA (Turin
). The Team obtained the following result:
Eco-marathon
, at the Eurospeedway in Lausitz (Germany
) with the following results:
The team also took part in the Formula EHI 2009
, hosted by the Research Center ENEA
(Rome
), and obtained the following result:
In April 2009 the Team sent three of its members to witness the SEM 09 USA competition.
In October 2009, the Team H2politO won the first prize in the category "Creativity, Research and Composites
" at the Compotec fair, in Marina di Carrara
, Italy
.
Eco-marathon
, at the Eurospeedway in Lausitz (Germany
) with the following results:
In 2010 The Team started developing an innovative Urban Concept to run the European 2011 edition of the Shell
Eco-marathon
Polytechnic University of Turin
The Polytechnic University of Turin is an engineering university based in Turin, northern Italy. Established in 1859, Politecnico di Torino is Italy’s oldest Technical University. In 2011 it was ranked as the best engineering university in Italy in the Academic Ranking of World Universities.It is...
. These students come from various degree courses (engineering and architecture) and work together on the design
Design
Design as a noun informally refers to a plan or convention for the construction of an object or a system while “to design” refers to making this plan...
and assembly of a low consumption hydrogen vehicle
Hydrogen vehicle
A hydrogen vehicle is a vehicle that uses hydrogen as its onboard fuel for motive power. Hydrogen vehicles include hydrogen fueled space rockets, as well as automobiles and other transportation vehicles...
– IDRA.
The Team mission is to participate in low consumption competitions for vehicles utilizing alternative energy sources. It also aims to train Engineers by applying theory to practical applications, an innovative approach to learning if compared to the typical lecture-based methods.
History
The Team began in 2006, with the aim of building an alternative energy vehicle based on hydrogen propulsion.Ms. Massimiliana Carello was appointed faculty advisor with the task of following students throughout their activities and supporting the technological and educational aspects of the project. Thanks to the approval of the Dean of the Polytechnic of Turin, Mr. Francesco Profumo, the project took off and the first team was created in 2007. It was made up of 15 students who designed, assembled and tested the first prototype
Prototype
A prototype is an early sample or model built to test a concept or process or to act as a thing to be replicated or learned from.The word prototype derives from the Greek πρωτότυπον , "primitive form", neutral of πρωτότυπος , "original, primitive", from πρῶτος , "first" and τύπος ,...
.
Within the Team, all students are assigned precise roles, tasks and responsibilities like in a real company. Students also take care of the organizational and decision-making aspects of the project.
The professors involved in the project form a Steering Committee, which follows students during their team activities and as supervisors of experimental theses. The Polytechnic of Turin
Polytechnic University of Turin
The Polytechnic University of Turin is an engineering university based in Turin, northern Italy. Established in 1859, Politecnico di Torino is Italy’s oldest Technical University. In 2011 it was ranked as the best engineering university in Italy in the Academic Ranking of World Universities.It is...
is the first Italian university to officially recognize this kind of project.
The hydrogen propulsion vehicle IDRA has participated in competitions dedicated to its category – the Shell
Royal Dutch Shell
Royal Dutch Shell plc , commonly known as Shell, is a global oil and gas company headquartered in The Hague, Netherlands and with its registered office in London, United Kingdom. It is the fifth-largest company in the world according to a composite measure by Forbes magazine and one of the six...
Eco-marathon
Eco-marathon
The Eco-Marathon is an annual competition sponsored by Shell, in which participants build special vehicles to achieve the highest possible fuel efficiency. The Eco-Marathon is held around the world with events in Finland, France, Germany, The Netherlands, Japan, and the USA...
and the Formula Electric & Hybrid Italy - and will continue to do so. In 2007, it became Project of the year of the Polytechnic of Turin.
The Polytechnic of Turin is the main backer of the project, both financially and structurally. In fact, it provides the laboratories and equipment necessary to assemble and test prototypes. Several major companies are also actively involved. Technical partnerships consist of joint projects between students and firms in order to develop the vehicle. Some companies have also contributed financially to the project.
The Team has a laboratory
Laboratory
A laboratory is a facility that provides controlled conditions in which scientific research, experiments, and measurement may be performed. The title of laboratory is also used for certain other facilities where the processes or equipment used are similar to those in scientific laboratories...
within the Mechanical Engineering
Mechanical engineering
Mechanical engineering is a discipline of engineering that applies the principles of physics and materials science for analysis, design, manufacturing, and maintenance of mechanical systems. It is the branch of engineering that involves the production and usage of heat and mechanical power for the...
department of the Polytechnic (corso Duca degli Abruzzi 24, Turin
Turin
Turin is a city and major business and cultural centre in northern Italy, capital of the Piedmont region, located mainly on the left bank of the Po River and surrounded by the Alpine arch. The population of the city proper is 909,193 while the population of the urban area is estimated by Eurostat...
) and its headquarters are within the faculty of Automotive Engineering
Automotive engineering
Modern automotive engineering, along with aerospace engineering and marine engineering, is a branch of vehicle engineering, incorporating elements of mechanical, electrical, electronic, software and safety engineering as applied to the design, manufacture and operation of motorcycles, automobiles,...
(via Nizza 230, Turin
Turin
Turin is a city and major business and cultural centre in northern Italy, capital of the Piedmont region, located mainly on the left bank of the Po River and surrounded by the Alpine arch. The population of the city proper is 909,193 while the population of the urban area is estimated by Eurostat...
).
2008
The Team and IDRA08 (2008 version of the vehicle) participated in the ShellRoyal Dutch Shell
Royal Dutch Shell plc , commonly known as Shell, is a global oil and gas company headquartered in The Hague, Netherlands and with its registered office in London, United Kingdom. It is the fifth-largest company in the world according to a composite measure by Forbes magazine and one of the six...
Eco-marathon
Eco-marathon
The Eco-Marathon is an annual competition sponsored by Shell, in which participants build special vehicles to achieve the highest possible fuel efficiency. The Eco-Marathon is held around the world with events in Finland, France, Germany, The Netherlands, Japan, and the USA...
2008, held in Nogaro
Nogaro
Nogaro is a commune in the Gers department in southwestern France.-Population:-References:*...
(France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
) and obtained the following results:
- Covered 942 km/l gasoline equivalent - 2215.72 mpgU.S. (942 km/L)
- Recognized as the best novice team
- Recognized as the best Italian team
The Team also took part in the Italian competition Formula EHI 2008 (Formula Electric & Hybrid Italy), held in Orbassano
Orbassano
Orbassano is a comune in the Province of Turin in the Italian region Piedmont, located about 15 km southwest of Turin. As of 31 December 2004, it had a population of 21,667 and an area of 22.1 km²....
and organized by the Automotive Technical Association - ATA (Turin
Turin
Turin is a city and major business and cultural centre in northern Italy, capital of the Piedmont region, located mainly on the left bank of the Po River and surrounded by the Alpine arch. The population of the city proper is 909,193 while the population of the urban area is estimated by Eurostat...
). The Team obtained the following result:
- Third prize in Category 2
2009
In 2009 the Team participated in the European 2009 edition of ShellRoyal Dutch Shell
Royal Dutch Shell plc , commonly known as Shell, is a global oil and gas company headquartered in The Hague, Netherlands and with its registered office in London, United Kingdom. It is the fifth-largest company in the world according to a composite measure by Forbes magazine and one of the six...
Eco-marathon
Eco-marathon
The Eco-Marathon is an annual competition sponsored by Shell, in which participants build special vehicles to achieve the highest possible fuel efficiency. The Eco-Marathon is held around the world with events in Finland, France, Germany, The Netherlands, Japan, and the USA...
, at the Eurospeedway in Lausitz (Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
) with the following results:
- Covered 1538 km/l gasoline equivalent - 3617.6 mpgU.S. (1,538 km/L)
- First prize Marketing & Communication Award
- Special mention for "Design Award"
The team also took part in the Formula EHI 2009
, hosted by the Research Center ENEA
ENEA (Italy)
The L'Agenzia nazionale per le nuove tecnologie, l'energia e lo sviluppo economico sostenibile is an Italian Government sponsored research and development agency...
(Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
), and obtained the following result:
- Third prize in Category 2
In April 2009 the Team sent three of its members to witness the SEM 09 USA competition.
In October 2009, the Team H2politO won the first prize in the category "Creativity, Research and Composites
Composite material
Composite materials, often shortened to composites or called composition materials, are engineered or naturally occurring materials made from two or more constituent materials with significantly different physical or chemical properties which remain separate and distinct at the macroscopic or...
" at the Compotec fair, in Marina di Carrara
Carrara
Carrara is a city and comune in the province of Massa-Carrara , notable for the white or blue-grey marble quarried there. It is on the Carrione River, some west-northwest of Florence....
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
.
2010
In 2010 the Team participated in the European 2010 edition of ShellRoyal Dutch Shell
Royal Dutch Shell plc , commonly known as Shell, is a global oil and gas company headquartered in The Hague, Netherlands and with its registered office in London, United Kingdom. It is the fifth-largest company in the world according to a composite measure by Forbes magazine and one of the six...
Eco-marathon
Eco-marathon
The Eco-Marathon is an annual competition sponsored by Shell, in which participants build special vehicles to achieve the highest possible fuel efficiency. The Eco-Marathon is held around the world with events in Finland, France, Germany, The Netherlands, Japan, and the USA...
, at the Eurospeedway in Lausitz (Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
) with the following results:
- Covered 1148 km/l gasoline equivalent - 2700.3 mpgU.S. (1,148 km/L)
- First prize Marketing & Communication Award
- First prize in Design Award
In 2010 The Team started developing an innovative Urban Concept to run the European 2011 edition of the Shell
Royal Dutch Shell
Royal Dutch Shell plc , commonly known as Shell, is a global oil and gas company headquartered in The Hague, Netherlands and with its registered office in London, United Kingdom. It is the fifth-largest company in the world according to a composite measure by Forbes magazine and one of the six...
Eco-marathon
Eco-marathon
The Eco-Marathon is an annual competition sponsored by Shell, in which participants build special vehicles to achieve the highest possible fuel efficiency. The Eco-Marathon is held around the world with events in Finland, France, Germany, The Netherlands, Japan, and the USA...