This is very cool. A group of kids in Philladelphia just made a hybrid vehicle that rocks.
"The top auto designers in Detroit have been slam-dunked by a group of high school kids from Philadelphia who built the K-1 Attack Hybrid, a sports car that gets 50 miles per gallon and can go from zero to 60 in four seconds. During auto shop class, the group took a Honda Accord chassis, a Volkswagen turbo diesel engine and a 200hp electric motor, and put together a hybrid electric/biomass car that runs on soybeans. Now the car has won a race and is getting big-time press coverage all over the U.S." (Gizmodo)
From Philly.com:
The car - designed and built by students in the school's Academy for Automotive and Mechanical Engineering - delivers more horsepower than some Porsches and gets gas mileage comparable to a Toyota Prius. It runs on fuel made from soybeans.
Last year, the car was the surprise winner of a competition for eco-friendly vehicles, the Tour de Sol. The students, hoping to prove their success was no fluke, will enter the car again this year.
They'll be back despite an effort by school district budget-cutters last year to eliminate the program. It was saved by an outcry from parents and area auto dealers, who see the program as a source of hard-to-find trained mechanics.
Sports Hybrid, Built by Kids, Runs on Soybeans, Zero-to-60 in 4 Seconds
Sports Hybrid, Built By Kids, Runs On Soybeans, Zero-to-60 In 4 Seconds
Trend Themes
1. Hybrid Vehicles - The rise of hybrid vehicles presents an opportunity for innovative designs and technologies that prioritize fuel efficiency without sacrificing performance.
2. Biomass Fuel - Developing vehicles that can run on cleaner and renewable fuel sources, such as soybeans, opens up new possibilities for reducing carbon emissions and promoting sustainability.
3. Youth Engineering - The success of the K-1 Attack Hybrid built by high school students showcases the potential of fostering youth engineering programs to drive disruptive innovation and encourage creativity in the automotive industry.
Industry Implications
1. Automotive - The automotive industry can explore the development of hybrid vehicles that offer improved fuel efficiency and performance, addressing the growing consumer demand for eco-friendly transportation options.
2. Renewable Energy - The renewable energy industry can seize opportunities to advance biomass fuel technologies and create sustainable alternatives to traditional fossil fuels, reducing environmental impact and promoting a cleaner future.
3. Education - The success story of the K-1 Attack Hybrid built by students highlights the importance of investing in STEM education programs to cultivate the next generation of innovative engineers and problem solvers in various industries, including automotive.