http://www.newsleader.com/story/news/local/2015/04/22/power-purpose-electrifies-students-gov-school/26175091/ Young team gets jolt from building electric cars Monique Calello April 22, 2015
[images http://www.gannett-cdn.com/-mm-/c1274417106f4eb40b952937b07b893763d74fd5/c=160-0-3441-2461&r=x383&c=540x380/local/-/media/Staunton/2015/04/22/B9316025749Z.1_20150422101441_000_GGEAGUJKI.1-0.jpg Students in the electric vehicle engineering course at Shenandoah Valley Governor's School gather around the car they're working on at the Fishersville campus on Sunday, April 12, 2015. (Photo: Griffin Moores/The News Leader) http://www.gannett-cdn.com/-mm-/73acfe519de4562b3d456620075ea682ff8c622f/c=130-0-3315-2395&r=x383&c=540x380/local/-/media/Staunton/2015/04/22/B9316025749Z.1_20150422101441_000_GGEAGUJRR.1-0.jpg An uninstalled stack of Lithium Ion batteries sits in the electric vehicle that students have built as part of a course at Shenandoah Valley Governor's School. (Photo: Griffin Moores/The News Leader) ] FISHERSVILLE — Emily Vollmer tests the electrical wiring on a 1971 Datsun in preparation for a competition this weekend in North Carolina. One of six students in the electric vehicle engineering class at the Governor's School, she clearly knows what she is doing. Her focus is sharpened by earned expertise. When Emily first joined the electric vehicle team, she had no knowledge about cars or electricity. She just knew she cared about the environment and wanted to be an engineer. Basically, Emily had to learn everything. "It was definitely stressful," Emily says. "There were a lot of late nights back at home where I would come back from this at nine o'clock and think, I don't understand what they were talking about. I would research it and then return the next time like, OK, I think I have a better idea, I can do this." The students had to strip out all of the existing wiring and then start over to create the electric cars. "Learning how to wire something was really challenging for me," Emily says. "We were trying to get all these back lights to work. It was about two months before we could get anything to work, and when we finally did it was just really exciting. After that we got on a roll." “It was about two months before we could get anything to work, and when we finally did it was just really exciting.” Emily Vollmer, student Now Emily builds electrical components for the cars, which include the wiring harness that gets things like the lights, horn and wipers to work. Benjamin Lahn works with Emily on the components and wiring system. He, too, had no experience. "I told them I didn't know anything about cars, but I would be willing to join if they would let me and of course they said, we welcome people with no experience," Benjamin says. The program was created in 1993 by Ron Perry and Jack Cross. Byron Humphries joined the team the second year and took over the helm in its third year. An army brat whose parents were both Virginians, Humphries attended college in Florida and then returned to Virginia. "If we were stateside, we were in Virginia," Humphries says about moving around as a kid. Humphries' passion and enthusiasm is contagious. This program is a labor of love, and it shows through the transformation demonstrated by his students and in his upbeat, engaging demeanor. When asked what motivates him, he says, "To build powerful individuals, so they can go out to do amazing things." “Our Datsun has been through quite a few versions, and this is the latest. It is incredibly fast.” Vincent Daw, teacher The purpose of the class is evident not just in the doing but in the becoming. A student seems to begin the course as a curious participant, not really knowing what to do and often leaves committed to something which is intended to make the world a better place. Fellow instructor Vincent Daw is as fully charged as his electric cars, and ready to talk shop with anyone who will listen. An engineering and chemistry teacher at the Governor's School, this is Daw's second year as an instructor for the electric vehicle class. "Second year trying to save the world!" he says as soon as he walks into the shop. "Our Datsun has been through quite a few versions, and this is the latest. It is incredibly fast." Daw believes the electric car is on the rebound and the future looks bright. "The lead-acid batteries are ancient technology... about 100 years old," Daw says. "The Lithium battery pack is twice the energy." In the class, students have to take a gas car, strip out the engine, radiator, lead-acid batteries and gas tanks and then rebuild and redesign it with electric motors, Lithium batteries and electrical components. They have to learn everything about designing, building, installing and testing various systems from wiring to controllers. The team has two vehicles: a 1971 Datsun 240Z and a 1983 Porsche 911. "This is a challenging process, but we get our students thinking," Daw says. "A lot of our college prep students don't have hands-on experience, so we provide them with that and open them up to problem solving." The team is entering the Datsun in an Electric Vehicle Challenge competition in Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina. There are 10 schools participating along the East Coast. The competition includes autocross, acceleration, efficiency, design and range events, an oral presentation, a troubleshooting category and an incentive event created by educators to encourage education and raise community awareness. "The brag on my students is that we will definitely be the only high school who built a controller at the competition," Humphries says. A controller allows the driver to vary the voltage, and controls the batteries so the car doesn't instantly go 100 miles per hour. [image] Cole Leonard, a student in the electric vehicle engineering course at Shenandoah Valley Governor's School, works on the class car Sunday, April 12, 2015. (Photo: Griffin Moores/The News Leader) This year's team includes juniors Daniel Brooks, Tanner Dellett-Wion, Benjamin Lahn, Emily Vollmer and seniors Gus Hollberg, Cole Leonard and Ailec Wu. "I'm tickled to have a bunch of juniors because I get another year," Humphries says. In the meantime, the team is out there looking for opportunities to raise community awareness. They have participated in the Staunton Christmas parade, the British car show and Earth Day Staunton. Many folks have also joined in to help. "This is basically self-funded," Humphries says. "We have some money that we raise, but basically we do all this through sponsorship. That's the only thing that keeps it going." Sponsors include the Governor's School, Valley Vocational Technical School, David Waterman, Fisher Auto Parts, Foreign Affairs, John Sanders, British Car Club, Virginia Panel, Eavers Tire Pros, Green Shed Conversions and Dish Network. Future plans for the team include developing a battery management system. [© newsleader.com] For EVLN posts use: http://evdl.org/evln/ http://www.kansascity.com/cars/article19422078.html mecum.com Auctions off Minddrive 1967 Ghia EV conversion http://www.gizmag.com/minddrive-electric-ghia-social-fuel-tour/27727/pictures ... http://minddrive.org/tag/karmann-ghia/ The history of the Karmann Ghia is a very interesting one ... ... [video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6v-4Kvg03tc MINDDRIVE'S Social Fuel Tour Short Documentary Video for MINDDRIVE electric Ghia 6:41 Aug 13, 2013 - Uploaded by MINDDRIVE Converted electric Karmann Ghia ... 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