Triangle Electric Auto Association
Newsletter October-November 2001
EV Challenge Mobile Classroom is Ready to Roll
by Ken Dulaney
The Carolina Electric Vehicle Coalition based in Raleigh, NC
unveiled the EV Challenge Mobile Classroom on October 4th as part
of their mission to educate young people and the general public about the benefits
of driving electric vehicles. The debut occurred at a training session for volunteers
who will staff the Mobile Classroom during its display at the North Carolina
State Fair beginning October 12th and ending October 21st.
"The Mobile Classroom is an incredible way of teaching people
about electric vehicles and alternative fuels," said Eric Ryan, Director of
the EV Challenge. "We hope people come away from the display inspired about
the exciting world of electric vehicle education."
The
Mobile Classroom will be displayed at various events around the nation to promote
the EV Challenge, the primary activity of the Carolina Electric Vehicle Coalition.
The EV Challenge is an educational program where students convert an existing
gasoline vehicle to electric. The converted vehicle becomes the centerpiece
of a yearlong program that culminates in a two-day competition where high school
teams participate in road rally, autocross, oral presentation, web page design,
and technical troubleshooting events. The program also contains a middle school
component where younger students build and compete Junior Solar Sprint cars.
This year over 40 schools from across the US are participating.
The Mobile Classroom is a customized auto transport trailer.
The customizations include a side entry door, a roll out awning, and display
panels. A 1980 Triumph Spitfire converted to a 156 volt electric drivetrain
by North Johnston High School is also part of the display.
"Students often think of electric vehicles as being slow and
not very much fun," said Ralph Goodwin, Chairman of the Carolina EV Challenge
Steering Committee. "When they see the Spitfire, they realize that electric
vehicles can be fun and exciting! They are then challenged to design and build
an electric vehicle that meets their expectations of what an electric car should
be."
The interior of the Mobile Classroom contains display panels
and a video narrated by Ed Begley, Jr., movie and television actor and a vocal
supporter of electric vehicles. The video includes clips of students working
on their vehicles, discussing issues with teachers, and competing in the final
autocross event.
"These educational programs are essential to show our young
people that electric vehicles work, and that they can be cost-effective," said
Begley.
Another part of the classroom is the EV Demo Board. The Demo
Board is a panel that attaches to the side of the trailer and displays the basic
operation and design of an electric vehicle. Four plastic wheels are mounted
on the board and graphics show the location of batteries and a controller. A
small accelerator pedal and a forward-neutral-reverse switch control the motion
of a drive wheel. Gages display the voltage and current.
To complete the picture of reducing emissions from transportation
sources, the Mobile Classroom is towed by a Chevrolet Sierra 2500 bi-fuel pickup.
The truck is designed to operate on gasoline or compressed natural gas. The
truck provides another example of using clean fuels whenever possible.
First stop for the Mobile Classroom is the North Carolina State
Fair. Members of the Triangle Electric Auto Association will staff the display
along with volunteers from other sponsoring organizations. And if the flashy,
red Spitfire is not enough to catch fairgoer's attention, this year's display
will include a chance to win a Curry electric scooter. The scooter was donated
to the Coalition by Alternate Neighborhood Transportation, a low speed electric
vehicle dealer based in Southport, NC.
After the Fair, the Mobile Classroom will embark on a multi-state
tour of rookie EV Challenge schools. The EV Challenge is sponsored in part by
Advanced Energy Corporation, Carolina Power & Light, Dominion Virginia Power,
Duke Power, the Energy Office of the North Carolina Department of Administration,
the Air Quality Division of the North Carolina Department of Natural Resources,
and the Office of Transportation and Air Quality of the US EPA
.
Northampton Rally
If it's the first weekend in October, it must be time for the Northampton EV Rally. This year, as usual, the rally began with a Friday afternoon autocross in Roanoke Rapids, followed by a Saturday morning road rally through Northampton County. And as always the event was entirely organized by the students at Northampton County High School East, a feature which makes it unique.
Friday October 5, 2001 was a beautiful day, warm and sunny, perfect for autocross in the parking lot behind Becker Village Mall. . Participants checked in, walked the course, and were fed a barbecue lunch. After lunch the racing began, with each car getting 6 timed runs through the course.. Winners in each of the three categories were:
Cars:
1) Wake Forest Rolesville HS (Mazda RX7)
2) Northeast Guilford HS (VW Golf)
3) Durham Southern HS (Ford Probe)
Trucks:
1) Topsail HS (Ford Ranger)
2) Western Carteret HS (Chevy S-15)
3) Currituck HS (Toyota Tundra)
Modified
1) Miramar (Florida) HS (Ford Probe)
2) Central Shenandoah Governor's School (Datsun 240 Z)
3) Northampton East HS (Ford Escort)
After
the competing schools had finished their official runs, the course was opened
up to "fun runs" with the schools having a chance for a little more driving
experience and other vehicles having a chance at the course as well. Included
in the fun runs were the EV Challenge's red Spitfire, a Dynasty "IT" neighborhood
vehicle, an "Electric Ox" lawn tractor, and a Toyota Prius hybrid.
The weather wasn't
so cooperative on Saturday, with rain pouring down as the cars drove a sort
of parade route through Northampton county, meeting back in Jackson, NC, for
lunch and a group photo.
The Electric Auto Association of Coastal Carolinas
North Carolina now has another chapter of the EAA. The EAA
of the Central Carolinas had its first meeting Saturday October 27, at Alternative
Neighborhood Transportation in Southport, NC Elected as officers of the chapter
were Jayne Howard, president, Kenneth Hewitt, v. president, and Richard Howard,
treasurer. The group currently has about 9 members.
For more information about the coastal chapter, contact the Howards or email www.EAAofCC@aol.com
State Fair
Overall attendance was down at the NC State Fair this year, but the weather was (mostly) excellent and the EV Display looked great.
Thank you to all the TEAA members who helped staff the booth. The TEAA was again the best source of volunteers for the display, providing 14 people and 46 hours of time.
November Meeting
Our November meeting will be next Tuesday, November 20th, at
5:30 PM in the AEC conference room. We'll hear from AEC about the Green Power
Initiative which will allow North Carolinians to purchase clean electricity.
We'll also have a round table discussion with John Janes, a hydrogen economy
expert based here in Raleigh. Our discussion will focus on energy security,
fuel cells, and how EVs can play a role.
We'll also plan our Holiday Social so please join us.
