Newburgh - On Tues., Apr. 29th, members of the Newburgh Free Academy Solar Car Club were on hand at the monthly Board of Education meeting to speak to board members about their recent achievements and about their plans for the future.
The NFA Solar Car Club began 14 years ago. Over the years, members of the club have created seven solar cars and three solar bikes. The club also has two electric vehicles.
In 2000, club members traveled to Australia to compete in the World Solar Challenge. In 1999 and 2007, they were the national champions. In 2007 the NFA team was one of nine teams from across the country that participated in the nine-day-long Dell-Winston School Solar Car Challenge race which began in Austin, Texas, and ended in Newburgh. The team is the current national champion.
During the presentation, the team announced that it will not be competing in the race this summer and that it is changing direction by building smaller, electric vehicles. Currently, the team is in the process of building a new electric vehicle and rebuilding the electric "Jay Bird II."
The new direction for the team’s vehicles will allow them to compete across the country next year in competitions in states such as Florida, Iowa, and Nebraska.
Last year, the Board of Education, provided the team with $4,000 to make further advancements. Team representatives announced that the donation was used to buy necessary supplies, such as Kevlar, Carbon Fiber, and other core materials.
Further donations from companies and individuals are being used to buy solar cells, Chromali, wheels, tires, suspension, and batteries.
The Solar Car Club utilizes many departments at NFA in order to build, create, and maintain the vehicles. Students in physics, auto body, electronics, auto shop and woodshop classes all play a vital role in the creation and maintenance of the solar car. In addition, NFA custodians and groundskeepers help students mount and dismount the wheels and tires. There is also help from outside the school. The SUNY New Paltz Electrical Engineering Department created a remote sensing device to be used by the team.
The NFA Solar Car Club regularly participates in community activities, such as the Gidney Avenue Elementary School Science Expo, Hudson Valley Green Festival, Engineering Day at New Paltz, and by guest speaking at events such as Engineering Week. The team will also be participating in upcoming Memorial Day Parades in the Town of Newburgh and New Windsor. In addition, the team is currently working on scheduling a demonstration at Horizon’s-on-the-Hudson and in special education classes at NFA and Orange/Ulster BOCES. Upcoming races for the team include the New York Electrothon in Syracuse, Connecticut Electrothon at the Lime Rock Race Track, and the tentative Hudson Valley Electrothon at the Dutchess County Fairgrounds.
The NFA Solar Car Club is always seeking new members and membership is available to all students.
