A go-cart as an electric vehicle for undergraduate teaching and assessment

To complement the traditional undergraduate lecture-based power electronics course material, the University of Canterbury has introduced a design and build assignment which focuses on motor control and the issues of interfacing to the mechanical world. Stimulation of the students´ interest is achieved by using electric go-carts and holding a series of performance trials which pit teams of students against each other. Each team mark is assessed through a laboratory inspection, a written report, a peer assessment mark and an outdoor trial. As well as stimulating the students´ interest in power electronics, this assignment provides them with a range of “real world” practical design experience.