BOC gives it’s backing to Guildford High School’s electric car
15/03/04 — BOC News Release Europe 202
Teachers Dr Giles Preston, Tim Davies - BOC and Sue Early
Guildford, UK, March 15, 2004 – A project by pupils at Guildford High School to design and build an electric car for a national competition has received a boost with support from BOC.
Tim Davies, BOC’s global commercial manager, presented a cheque for £500 to teachers Dr Giles Preston and Sue Early, to help fund the development of the car to take part in this year’s Formula 24 event, run by the charity GreenPower.
The car, which has an aluminium space frame chassis, is powered by a 24V fractional horsepower motor and drives a fixed rear axle and BMX wheels. When completed, the driver will steer the car by using a joystick.
Formula 24, which was launched last year, involves sixth form and tertiary colleges around the country taking part in a 200-metre drag race with their specially designed vehicles all of which must use two Fracmo Formula 24 electric motors supplied by GreenPower.
Dr Preston, who has been working on the project with the students said: ”GreenPower has provided a fantastic opportunity for our students to get involved in hands-on design and engineering, keeping in mind the need to consider alternative forms of energy. Everyone has worked so hard to get the project this far; now we are all really looking forward to the race”
Fiona Bolton, headmistress of Guildford High School, said: “Being involved in a national project of this kind is very exciting, not just for the girls involved, but the school as a whole. The excellent support we have received from local companies has really boosted the students’ efforts.”
Tim Davies said: “With the shortage of engineers in the UK becoming so acute, BOC is delighted to be involved in projects such as this which stimulate the interest of secondary school pupils in engineering. The electric car races are designed to develop this interest and an understanding of both theoretical and practical technology as well as developing team and interpersonal skills.”
The aim of GreenPower, which is based in West Sussex, is to promote engineering as a career in schools, particularly at a pre – GCSE level, and to develop an awareness of electricity as a clean and potentially renewable source of energy for transport.
GreenPower was launched with the purpose of carrying forward the success of the inaugural Electric Car Marathon first held at the Goodwood Motor Racing circuit, near Chichester, West Sussed, in 1999. The first race saw 21 cars take part and in 2003, 68 cars qualified from an entry of more than 180 vehicles.
The marathon, now sponsored by Ford, attracts entrants from secondary schools who have designed and built their own cars. The cars are made from a variety of materials from wood to aluminium. The race is to see which team can complete the most laps in six hours.
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