Thursday, January 22, 2009

NAIAS Education Day

Kids race models powered by fuel cells at Detroit auto show

BY CHASTITY PRATT DAWSEY • FREE PRESS EDUCATION WRITER • January 22, 2009

Eighth graders Ahris Carter and Jazzanea Williams of Detroit watched happily as their hydrogen-powered model car was the first to make the 10-meter trek to the finish line Wednesday during Education Day at the North American International Auto Show.

Three dozen students from Heilmann Park Middle School in Detroit and Lincoln Middle School in Pontiac tested their environmentally-friendly cars at the "Fuel Cell Challenge," sponsored by the Society of Automotive Engineers Foundation and the GM Foundation.

The schools were among 25 nationwide that participated in a pilot fuel cell program that might expand to about 200 schools nationwide. The program challenges students to build a car that travels up to 10 meters and is fueled by water.

Lionel Robertson, an eighth grader at Heilmann, taped an MP-4 player to his car so that it would play music. "I just wanted to do something different, he said.

Lincoln Middle School students Nichole Thompson, Jazzaman Mattingly, Luis Davila and Steven Loftin explained to Dan Hancock, vice president of GM Powertrain Global Engineering, how electrolysis separated the hydrogen and oxygen from a few drops of water to power their car.

"Tomorrow's solutions come from today's students," Hancock said.

Also at the auto show Wednesday, Secretary of State Terri Lynn Land, the Detroit Auto Dealers Association and others announced the second annual "Courageous Persuaders" contest. High school students produce 30-second videos to warn middle school students about the hazards of underage drinking and vie for scholarships of up to $3,000.

For information about the contest, visit: www.courageouspersuaders.com.

Contact CHASTITY PRATT DAWSEY at cpratt@freepress.com.Staff writers Matt Helms and Ben Schmitt contributed to this report.

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