University of California, Irvine Crowdfunding

If 40 friends donate $25, we'll be able to secure our aero package. This keeps the car on the ground at high speeds and increases traction around curves because the air under the car is moving faster than that the air above it.

If 24 friends donate $50, we will get the engine we need for the Baja competition. This vehicle is also required to be a four-wheel drive which more than doubles the cost of the driveline.

If 30 friends donate $100, we will get the powertrain and driveline we need for our vehicles. The powertrain is the mechanism that transmits the drive from the engine of a vehicle to its axle and the driveline transfers power from the engine and transmission to the wheels.

The accumulator is the primary method for controlling shift feel and is designed to modify a shift by essentially acting as a shock absorber for the fluid pressure that is applying a clutch, brake or band. The human machine interface (HMI) is a set of functional elements that let the driver communicate with their vehicle. If 20 friends give $250, we can build the accumulator and HMI we need.

If 8 friends donate $500 we can secure our chassis and suspension. The chassis is the load-bearing part of the car's frame. The suspension is a protective lattice of shock-absorbing components that helps ensure a car drives safe and smooth by absorbing the energy from various road bumps and other kinetic impacts.

EV and the Baja SAE Oregon intercollegiate competitions are about $3,000 and $2,000, respectively, and must be submitted in October, nine months before the events. If 5 friends donate $1000, we can go to the competition.