How about taking some of that stimulus and bailout money we’re investing in Detroit and investing it in kids who know how to get the job done? Case in point: West Philadelphia High School Hybrid X Team.
The high school students there built a car that gets 100 miles per gallon. They did it as an after school project. And they used commonly available, off the shelf parts, based on a Ford Focus chassis. That means this car could even past highway safety standards, long the nemesis of new car designers.
This is no elite, high priced academy. It’s an inner city, urban high school. But what these kids have that a carload of Detroit car designers lack is the inability to say it can’t be done. They just went out and did it.
As the team’s leader teacher Simon Hauger told us on Science Friday, the school is entering the competition for the automotive X-Prize.
“If an inner city high school can do it, that says something,” says Hauger of their hybrid car they will enter into the competition. The car will run 60 miles on a charge of electricity, and can be charged overnight. So why are we waiting 2 years for a Chevy Volt that gets 40 miles on a charge? These kids did that in 2004.
And the 100 mph car they are building now is one “even school teachers can afford,” between 20-$25,000.
Why aren’t we investing our stimulus money in these kids and others like them? Hello!!!!
This is a win-win situation. We invest our money in green technologies ready to use today. And we reward kids from the inner city for their smarts and moxie. Mr. President, next time you want to visit a cutting edge, mean, green factory head out to West Philly.
Do you know of a similar story or project? We’d love to hear about it…
an amazing video about alternative energy http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?et=1102448447455&e=001hpQlKLHx5dQObNMxZ0A6hpNpbeB88hZpb0PCmDbM8XrKQttWE8UccpaHaKLX37P8hoxNoIN3rAgpOCv30GVwYU5vVv5fdX0h9M4T3pghq_9xphfJT8Oq7-kicAJ3dZI6MYafByLBr3TK8MWKHzGTqg==
A lot of claims are made, but I could not find any data at all on their web site about their Ford Focus conversion.
When is some info going to be available? I’m a little skeptical of the claims of 60 mile range at less than $25,000.
What made me more skeptical is the info that is on their site. Their claims for their “K1 ATTACK” were:
“the electric motor would be powered by a 450 volt ultra-capacitor pack (weighing only 200lbs). This configuration would allow the super hybrid to attain an impressive fuel economy of over 50mpg and a zero to sixty acceleration under 4 seconds.”
but, further down they admit:
“Due to budget restraints, the ultra-capacitors were never purchased. Instead, the team was forced to use lead acid batteries. Unfortunately after extensive testing, the lead acid batteries could not safely provide the power the electric motor required.”
I hope they can pull it off, but I think we need to see some evidence of what they can actually accomplish before we get too excited about giving them govt grant money, or even assume that what they are doing exceeds what the GM Volt can do.
Regards, Ken C
Wow, this is fantastic! Preachin to the choir too on investing in these kids. We’ve been trying to get science in the classrooms at the early grades for years now with The Quirkles. – quirkles.com. It never ceases to amaze us with the concepts a four or five year old is able to comprehend and retain! I just came across you blog and am really likin what I’m seeing!
Best,
Jesse Kuhn
The Quirkles: Exploring Phonics Through Science
There is so much talet in schools waiting to be discovered. Education is lacking funding big time!! Please keep advocating for funding for education so talent can be discovered, polished and taken to another level.
It’s refreshing to hear a positive story about a group of young kids as opposed to all the doom and gloom we too often hear. The Our Spheres of Influnce Salon on Climate Change is spponsoring a teleconference & virtual roundtable featuring the EVX Team, Tuesday, April 14, 2009 at 7pm CST. Go to http://www.OurSpheresofInfluence.com to register. The final hour will focus of fundraisinf ideas for the EVX Team to keep this important program going.
I can see that you are putting a lot of time and effort into your blog and detailed articles! I am deeply in love with every single piece of information you post here. Will be back often to read more updates!
cfd