HK Seniors Race to the Finish Line With Electric Vehicle

Every major car company - from Audi to Volvo - is manufacturing electric cars and, while not in quite the same league, Haddam Killingworth High School has produced its first electric vehicle -  the CT133.

Designed and built by students in Ryan Kish's senior engineering class at HK, the CT133 finished fourth out of six vehicles at the Connecticut Electrathon Engineering Challenge at Lime Rock Park in Lakeville, CT on June 3. The CT133 competed in the novice class, which includes vehicles from schools that are new to the Electrathon Series and competing for the first or second time. The CT133 completed 20 laps around the 1.5 mile track, reaching a top speed of 35 mph.

"There were 14 cars that started the race," noted Kish, who has been teaching at HK for seven years. "Many cars did not complete the challenge, so I think for us to finish fourth is remarkable."

Students Tyler Normand, Jamie Verney, Chad Golembeski, Jake Armenia, Alex Simms and Matthew Wojick prepared for the challenge by driving laps around the half mile bus loop at the high school.

"It's a timed endurance efficiency test," noted Golembeski. "You win by the number of laps completed. It's a LeMans-style race."

The CT Electrathon Challenge was created in 2001 in response to Central Connecticut State University and RHAM High School's Great Alternative Energy event. The CT Electrathon Challenge was designed to include more research and engineering and to incorporate it into a high school atmosphere. The program has been growing steadily by about 20 percent each year, and now includes schools from around the country and Canada. Many of these schools have formed Electrathon events in their states.

The objective of the challenge is to drive an electric powered vehicle as far as possible on a closed circuit course for one hour, using a limited electrical supply; provide a forum where skill and ingenuity may be displayed; and provide public awareness and understanding of efficient electrical vehicles, according to CTElectrahon.org.

The design of the CT133 was based on a Triumph Spitfire, according to the students. The steel frame for the HK CT133 was built by students in the metals class at HK. The cardboard/fiberglass shell of the one-seater car was also created in school. The three wheels are bicycle wheels, the driver's seat a converted classroom chair. There are no foot pedals, steering and braking are all accomplished by hand controls.

"We started with a rolling chassis built by the students in the class last year," noted Golembeski, "and then we took the design the rest of the way."

"For next year, we would definitely recommend some frame adjustments," said Verney. "We would recommend that they re-design the frame and use aluminum or carbon fiber to make the vehicle lighter."

Weight is a significant factor in creating the vehicle for the CT Electrathon says Kish. The vehicles are all single-occupant, lightweight vehicles with either three or four wheels. They must meet specific design and safety regulations and must be powered by deep cycle lead acid battery packs not exceeding 64 pounds. The weight of the driver must equal 180 pounds, so the two HK drivers - Jake Armenia and Varney - each added weight vests for the competition. Safety harnesses are required and the driver's must wear helmets in the open cockpit.

"It wasn't very comfortable," said Armenia, who also created the car's artwork.

Kish plans to have next year's students improve on the vehicle and hopes to get some local sponsorship, either from engineering companies that can work alongside the students in re-designing the car or from businesses that can donate materials for the vehicle. Anyone interested in learning more can contact Kish at kishr33@rsd17.org