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High School Students Create Hydrogen Car

Discussion in 'Prius, Hybrid, EV and Alt-Fuel News' started by Arroyo, May 8, 2010.

  1. Arroyo

    Arroyo Member

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    [​IMG]
    By Kenny Lindberg
    News Editor

    As auto companies continue to fight for supremacy in the war for the most fuel efficient vehicles, a group of students at the Los Altos Academy of Engineering may have just raised the stakes.

    While working together for the past three years, students at the academy have completed the first hydrogen internal combustion vehicle ever created by high school students.

    The vehicle works by using a student-modified engine to use hydrogen as fuel. While most hydrogen cars are generally fuel cell vehicles, this innovation’s concept is similar to that of a gasoline vehicle as it uses a four-stroke engine designed to burn hydrogen without the use of gasoline, thus reducing carbon emissions.

    “It’s a fact that gasoline is depleting,” Project Manager John Weng said. “We’re using so much gasoline now that it’s important to look at hydrogen, a renewable source, which is safer than gasoline.”

    The innovation is to be displayed this Saturday at the school’s 5th annual open house in front of numerous dignitaries including Rep. Grace Napolitano, D-Hacienda Heights.

    Attempts to reach the congresswoman were not immediately returned.

    Between 30 and 40 students worked on the vehicle over the years and the project would’ve cost well above $14,000 if the students didn’t get some generous donations, Weng said. The project was mainly sponsored by the Hacienda La Puente Unified School District and the La Puente Valley Regional Occupational Program.

    “Without them we couldn’t possibly exist,” he said.

    Weng, who is still senior in high school, said it was a pleasure to see students from very diverse backgrounds come together to work on what he described as a better tomorrow.

    “We’re not scientists or researchers, but high school students trying to make the environment a better place,” Weng said.

    Also showcased will be the “Solar Shadow,” a solar vehicle which raced in the World Solar Challenge in Australia. The “Infusion,” a hydrogen fuel cell vehicle which took home first place at the Shell Eco-Marathon in 2007 will also be displayed, along with “Speed Racer,” one of the first electric cars ever built by the school.

    General Admission is $10. Children under 10 will be admitted free. The event starts at 10:30 a.m. The academy is located at 15325 East Los Robles Avenue in Hacienda Heights.

    For more information see the school’s Web site at lasv.org.

    HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS CREATE HYDROGEN VEHICLE | LA Car

     
  2. Rybold

    Rybold globally warmed member

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    KABOOM !!!!

    (that is not the sound of a hydrogen car blowing up - it is the sound of a nuclear power plant heading into warp speed, trying to generate enough power to create enough hydrogen to power all of the cars in the world)

    Edit: I fully support academic research on new technologies, regardless of the technology. Education and academics and R&D on new technologies are priceless and should be highly valued.
     
  3. darelldd

    darelldd Prius is our Gas Guzzler

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    Mmmh. Hydrogen ICE. Uh... we've had that for a while. It is about as exciting as gasoline ICE. And Compressed Natural Gas ICE.
     
  4. kgall

    kgall Active Member

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    Gotta love a public school system that promotes science and engineering at this level. But it will make it impossible to make the next "October Sky" movie a story of overcoming hardship.

    I hope they do as well for the kids who aren't geniuses.
     
    1 person likes this.