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Hibiscus Coast teams continue to do well in the Evolocity challenge.
The challenge involves students designing, making, testing and racing an electric bike or kart.
Around 30 teams from all over the North Island took part in the national competition on October 28 at Mt Smart.
In their first year of competition, Kingsway’s team won all their races, taking the title for the Time Attack Endurance and drag races in the Standard Kart category.
Kingsway teacher Juergen Lier says the school is super proud of its Year 11 team, called AE2.
He thanked Whangaparāoa College for donating an old mobility scooter chassis, which got the project started.
“The team is hoping to attract more sponsors next year to help them with resources or expertise to enter the open class which allows them to use 3kw motors,” Juergen says.
Whangaparāoa College teams have placed well in the competition over the last five years, and this year’s nationals was no exception. Their team, made up of Year 12 and 13s and one former student, entered the Open Kart category with a kart called Bed Rull, placing second in both the drag race and Time Attack Endurance events.
Teacher Colin Watts, who along with Vidya Ram and Gary Mueggenburg supported the team over the year-long project, says it attracts students considering mechanical engineering at university. They learn technical skills, programming and have to meet strict design specifications.
“It’s a ‘real-life’ project, linking with tertiary and industry skills,” he says.
The National Rally Day itself was exciting for all involved, featuring rally driver Hayden Paddon, Eva Hakansson, electric motorcycle racer, and Bill Dube, global pioneer of electric motorcycles.
The event was televised by Sky Sport.
“Our vehicle was the only one with a homebuilt lithium polymer battery, which fascinated the journalists,” Colin says.
