Published: April 01, 2007 11:55 am      

Northern students honored for electric car work

Four awards earned in N.C. competition

ACCIDENT — A lesson in alternate power sources for vehicles led to four awards for students from Northern High School.

“We’re extremely proud of their accomplishment,” Principal Gary Reichenbecher said. “It’s a unique project.”

The students’ challenge was to turn a gas-powered vehicle into an electric car, then find venues at which to test the converted vehicle.

The most recent competition was the EV Challenge in Raleigh, N.C., where students competed in multiple activities, including an oral presentation, a range event, a vehicle inspection/design competition and an autocross.

The Northern High team returned home with four awards — Rookie of the Year, second place in the range event, third place in vehicle design and third place in autocross.

Electronics and automotive technology students were involved as well as machine tool students, who constructed the battery box, and business students, who helped with paperwork, preparing the oral presentation and sold taffy to pay for incidental expenses.

Mark Kirchner, electronics instructor at the school, said that the process was not without some setbacks, including having an axle break at the competition, something he explained is fairly common with cars that have been converted this way.

In 2003, the school received a 1987 Saab 9000, with students working to convert the car, removing the gas engine and all gas components. Work was also done to the exterior, not only to remove rust areas, but eventually to give the vehicle a blue and gold paint scheme, with recognition to each business and individual who helped to get the vehicle running through their donations.

“The hardest part was getting the old engine out and putting the new in,” Justin Lowdermilk, a senior and mechanic on the car, said. He added that there had been a lot of body work.

The donations didn’t stop with the car, Kirchner said, saying that local businesses donated money, parts and technology to help the students complete their vehicle.

Along with Lowdermilk, seniors Corey Diehl, Brandon Friend, Steven Frye, Chris Miller, Travis Rounds, Andrew I. Sisler and Daniel Thomas and junior Katie Kelly went on the trip to North Carolina for the competition.

Now, with the experience of the competition and seeing their car’s performance in endurance and motocross events, the students plan to make repairs to the car’s axle and begin making modifications to improve the design.

Sarah Moses can be reached at smoses@times-news.com.