Saturday Challenge

Hydrogen Fuel Cell Model Car Challenge Saturday

May 1 at National Science Bowl

4/29/2004

From: Jeff Sherwood of U.S. Department of Energy, 202-586-4826, or 301-347-3850 (Science Bowl Press Room), Web: http://www.scied.science.doe.gov/nsb

News Advisory:

Hydrogen Fuel Cell Model Car Challenge Saturday, May 1 at National Science Bowl(r)
"Students, start your engines!" Sixteen National Science Bowl(r) high school teams from 13 states will be busy during the Science Day portion of this weekend's competition, but they won't be cramming for the academic questions or attending the research seminars. Instead, they will be designing, building and testing hydrogen fuel cell model cars. This hands-on Science Bowl activity will culminate in exciting races on the afternoon of Saturday, May 1, when the teams will run their cars in a grand prix speed race or a King of the Hill competition to see which car can climb the steepest incline.

The teams of four students will compete for a total of $7,500 in prizes. The first place team in each race will receive $1,500 for their schools' science departments. Second and third place teams for each race will receive $1,250 and $1,000, respectively.

The model cars can be no larger than one foot wide and two feet long. The model cars will use electricity to convert water into hydrogen and oxygen. The hydrogen will be stored on the car and will run a fuel cell that generates electricity to power a motor. Since no combustion is involved, the only byproducts are heat and water.

WHAT:

Hydrogen Fuel Cell Model Car Challenge

WHO:

Sixteen high school teams

WHEN:

Saturday, May 1, 3:30 p.m. Eastern

WHERE:

National 4-H Center, 7100 Connecticut Ave., Chevy Chase, Md.

NOTE TO TV CREWS:

The official car races are expected to start at 3:30 p.m., but there will be photo opportunities beginning at noon as students assemble their cars and test them on the courses.

The 16 teams competing in the Hydrogen Fuel Cell Model Car challenge are:
-- The Harker School, San Jose, Calif.
-- La Jolla High School, La Jolla, Calif.
-- Shasta High School, Redding, Calif.
-- Stockdale High School, Bakersfield, Calif.
-- OWCC Collegiate High School, Niceville, Fla.
-- Auburn High School, Rockford, Ill.
-- Terre Haute South Vigo High School, Terre Haute, Ind.
-- Urbandale High School, Urbandale, Iowa
-- Chaska High School, Chaska, Minn.
-- Skyview High School, Billings, Mont.
-- Shaker High School, Latham, N.Y.
-- W.G. Enloe High School, Raleigh, N.C.
-- Red River High School, N.D.
-- Edmond Home School Co-op, Oklahoma City, Okla.
-- Milby High School, Houston, Texas
-- University High School, Morgantown, W.V.

The Energy Department's Office of Science selected 16 teams for the model car challenge by lottery from the pool of Science Bowl teams applying to be in the races. On Sunday, May 2, the students will join 48 other teams from around the country for the academic competition portion of the Department of Energy National Science Bowl(r). In round robin and double elimination matches, the teams will answer increasingly difficult questions in biology, chemistry, physics, astronomy, mathematics, and earth and general sciences.

Biographical information on the teams and more information on the Department of Energy's National Science Bowl(r) is available on the web at: http://www.scied.science.doe.gov/nsb