In this era of depleting resources, one energy source that is bound to stay unexhausted until the very existence of mankind is solar energy. Beyond doubt, one of the largest consumers of non-renewable energy sources after industrial applications is the transportation sector. Hence, if an effort is made to utilize solar energy for transportation, it can help conserve a sizeable amount of the depleting resources. One such effort towards utilizing solar energy as a fuel for transportation has been made by a group of students from the Tottenville High School. Hailing themselves as the Solar Pirates, this group of 14 students has assembled a vehicle which is powered by solar energy and which they plan to run at the 2011 Solar Car Challenge; an annual race held since 1993 to motivate students towards science and engineering and which this year is to be held at Dallas, Texas.
This group, basically a motley of teens from the automotive and green technology shop classes, under the guidance of Gerard D’Ambrosio, their teacher cum advisor managed to develop from scratch a solar powered car after weeks of exhaustive planning and hours of tedious work. Furthermore, what lends credence to the efforts of the Solar Pirates is the fact that they happen to be the only team participating at the Solar Car Challenge from Tottenville and also have only one competitor from their New York state.
Built at a cost of about $15,000, the entire funds towards this automotive were raised either from donations or from an organized school fundraiser. This not just helped the team get some updated equipments, but also sponsored their test runs which have been very promising so to say. While usually most youngsters target speed, this group of teens has decided to win the competition not through its quickness, but through its capacity of doing the maximum number of laps without exhausting their batteries on the racing circuit.
Also, that the Solar Pirates are confident of winning definitely speaks volumes of their confidence, but the fact that they want to inspire others to go green using solar energy to the maximum extent possible speaks volumes of their dedication towards the fragile energy resources as well.
Via: Statenisland
