Pretoria - School learners saw their self-built electric cars come to life as they raced in the GreenpowerZA Electric Car Challenge at Red Star Raceway on Saturday, October 22, 2016.
GreenpowerZA enables learners to design, build and race a single seater electric car. GreenpowerZA use the excitement of motorsport to inspire learners from primary school through to high school to excel in the subject areas of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).
Schools participating
Various schools including Hoër Tegniese Skool Pretoria Tuine, Ingqayizivele High School, Hoërskool Schoonspruit, Isekelo Primary School and Laerskool Louis Leipoldt participated in the GreenpowerZA challenge. Two schools, one high school and one primary school, walked away with the winning trophies.
Hoërskool Schoonspruit was crowned winners of the Formula 24 endurance race. The teams had to cover a maximum distance in 90 minutes using one 12volt battery.
Hoër Tegniese Skool Pretoria Tuine took the lead in the first 35 minutes of the race but the learners from Hoërskool Schoonspruit understood that the race is not about who is the fastest but rather who drives the most laps in 90 minutes.
Gallery: GreenpowerZA - 2016 school solar race
Thus learners had to integrate science and mathematics in order to get the most out of their batteries.
Laerskool Louis Leipoldt is the winners of the first-ever Goblin race held on African soil. The Goblin race consist of three activities including speed racing (a race at the highest running speed), drag racing (an acceleration contest over a distance of 80m) and the slalom race (a race that follows a zigzag course).
The GreenpowerZA challenge is a fantastic, practical learning experience, making STEM a reality in learners' lives while having fun.
For more information regarding the GreenpowerZA Electric Car Challenge and how to get your school signed up for the 2017 race, contact us here.