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Current 
Cars

Learn more about our cars we're working on for the 2025-2026 competition season.

Monster Car

Featuring a zinc-alkaline battery propulsion system, our Monster Truck runs off the electrochemistry principles learned in chemistry. With an energy dense battery composed of zinc plates, manganese dioxide powder, and alkaline potassium hydroxide electrolyte, Monster Truck has a voltage output of 1.5V. The key behind Monster Truck is the Monster reaction, synthesized from permanganate and glucose from a monster energy drink. A photodiode placed outside a vial containing this reaction senses the color change of the reaction from pink/purple to clear, cutting the power to the motor. 

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1.5 V output

Top voltage

? meters

Top range

Lead by
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Propulsion Team Lead

Austin Tran

Reina Salman chemecar pic.jpg

Stopping Team Lead

Reina Salman

Perry the Platybus

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2.1 V output

Top voltage

? meters

Top range

Perry the platybus is powered by a lead acid battery, with a high cell potential up to an astounding 2.1V. The power generated by the lead acid battery is then connected to a rotary motor, promoting an instantaneous acceleration of our system. The stopping mechanism features a Briggs-Rauscher reaction and a predetermined initial chemical concentration needed for a desired length of time. Alongside electrical engineering, a light sensor is used to detect the number of cycles elapsed and power to the motor is cut off. 

Lead by
Jaden Song chemecar pic.png

Propulsion Team Lead

Jaden Song

John B. chemecar pic.jpeg

Stopping Team Lead

John Basombrio

Mechanical & Electrical Teams

Mechanical Team

John Maku chemecar pic.jpg

Mechanical Team Lead

Johnathan Maku

To create a solid yet a lightweight structure for our cars, the mechanical team uses a mix of CAD designs, 3D printing, metalworks, and laser printing.

 

With the knowledge of what data is to be collected from the chemical/electrical teams, this team works to create structurally integral chassis designs, cell housings, and all other necessary components to house our complex systems.

Electrical Team

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Electrical Team Lead

Sri Ujjini

Using electrical engineering principles and advanced circuitry, the electrical team works diligently to create circuits suited to each cars' operating mechanisms. 

 

Photosensors and LED lights are used to collect data about our chemical reactions. With advanced circuits, the data is then converted into electrical signals for our stopping mechanisms. 

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©2025 by AIChE at UC San Diego

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