Students seek ‘green’ motors for Colorado River boats

NAU engineering students are working toward the day when electric motors replace gas motors on the Colorado River.

As part of their senior design project, six NAU students recently took on an educational challenge proposed by the Grand Canyon River Outfitters Association to develop alternative motorboat technology for commercial river operations at Grand Canyon National Park and Glen Canyon National Recreation Area.

The association, which represents 16 rafting companies, is providing about $20,000 annually to students at NAU, Arizona State University Polytechnic, the University of Arizona and the University of Utah, in hopes of “tapping into innovative ways to reduce the environmental impact on the river,” said John Tester, director of engineering at NAU.

Tester said NAU’s project provides a vehicle for educating engineering students in the practical aspects of creating sustainable engineering solutions to real-world problems.

“Students want to do something ‘green’ and make a difference,” he said. “With this project they are finding out that isn’t always easy.”

He said one of the biggest challenges facing students is that current batteries do not hold the power needed for river running.

“This is as real-world as it gets,” Tester said. “It could take years before students find a viable solution with existing technology, but we have a great start.”

To date, NAU students have created an odd-looking outboard motor.

“The top of the motor has been chopped off and replaced with a high horsepower electric motor,” Tester said. “Due to safety concerns that still need to be addressed, the motor isn’t quite ready to be tested.”

From battery charging stations to power packs, students from the four universities gathered to share their motor design progress during a workshop held at NAU in late May.

“An added value to the project is that students work across engineering disciplines,” said Tester, a mechanical engineering professor who oversees the project with Dave Scott, an NAU electrical engineering professor.

This fall, a new group of senior engineering students will climb aboard the design project.

The Grand Canyon River Outfitters Association has reported that about 100 motorized rafts make a total of about 425 trips down the river annually, hauling about 14,000 passengers.