Presents, Pirates, and Parades

On Monday, December 1st, the EV class received an early Christmas - lithium batteries for our 2001 Ford Ranger Edge. These batteries are meant for the Nissan Leaf but we were able to purchase them from an online depot selling the safe, salvaged batteries from wrecked Leafs. 

In the wake of this shipment, the class has been focused on only two things for the month of December: preparing to install the batteries in the truck and preparing for the 11th annual Christmas Parade on Topsail Island. We were lucky enough this year to participate in this show of seasonal spirit and display our 1991 Toyota MR2 as well as our homegrown STEM Cycle with other local businesses and programs. In a vehement defiance of stereotypes of the engineering-minded, the team was able to put together a wonderfully creative and fun display featuring a fixture of the EV garage and an honorary member of our class. 

In addition to showing two of our vehicles, the parade experience was a good ol' fashioned great time. The team got to meet members of the community that supports us and give back a little through a few laughs via the so eloquently named EV Pirate. We hope to be back next year with all of our vehicles to make the experience even better.

NC Spot Festival

We are displaying all three of our vehicles at the NC Spot Festival in Hampstead this weekend.  Come visit us from 10-6 each day; we are next to the camel rides!  Proceeds from the Spot Festival help support the Topsail schools.

Raffle Time!

It's time for the Topsail Electric Vehicle Annual Raffle!
We have big plans for next year's team, including an all-new conversion and significant updates to our other vehicles, but none of it will be possible without financial support.

We have over $2,100 in total prizes available, including...

Recliner from Hampstead Furniture
iPad Mini.
Ukulele from the Ukulele Academy
Car Detailing and Oil Change at Jeff Gordon Chevrolet
Car Detailing at Stevenson Honda
Oil Change and Car Wash at Wilmington Motor Works
Alignment and Tire Rotation at MS Auto
Massage and Facial from Innis Spa
Fishing Rod from Eastern Outfitters
Video Sunglasses from Surf City Pier
Gift Certificates to numerous restaurants and businesses, including:
Advance Auto, Camino Real, Dunkin Donuts, Englese's, Fuzzy Peach, Highway 55, Jungle Rapids, Long Horn, NY Corner Deli, Pizza Hut and Reel Pizza.

Tickets are $10, or 3 for $25, and may be purchased at the drawing.

The drawing will be held May 28th at 6:00PM in the EV Shop (located behind Topsail High School.

At the Earth Day festival

We are at the Wilmington Earth Day Festival at Hugh MacRae Park until 6pm today.  Come out and visit us.

Video of the 2013-2014 School Year.

Grant Simme produced a fantastic video summarizing our accomplishments this year - check it out!

A visit to Bike Cycles

Before heading out for our brief Spring Break, we paid a visit to Bike Cycles, one of our sponsors, to show off our STEM Cycle.  The guys in the shop were quite impressed!

We also took an official team photo for the 2013-2014 EV Team.

11 Time Champions

This weekend we competed at the EV Challenge at NCCAR in Garysburg, NC.  We are pleased to announce some excellent results.  Without further ado:

 

Team results:

1st Place Overall, Car Class

1st Place Overall, Truck Class

1st Place Overall, STEM Cycle

1st Place School Initiative

2nd Place, Vehicle Design, Truck Class

2nd Place, Vehicle Design, STEM Cycle

Individual (or partner) events:

1st place, Troubleshooting: Ryan Latronico and Justin Poplaski

1st place, Oratorical: Katiana Vazquez and Tyler King

1st Place, Range (Car): Zac Bender and Justin Poplaski

1st Place, Jeopardy, Ben Nazelrod and Justin Poplaski

1st Place, Range (Truck): Grant Simme and Weston Hicks

1st Place, Autocross (Truck): Ben Nazelrod

1st Place, Acceleration (STEM Cycle): Brandon Whaley

1st Place, Range (STEM Cycle): Brandon Whaley

1st Place, Autocross (STEM Cycle): Roberto Gonzalez

2nd Place, Autocross (Car): Ryan Latronico  (A very consistent and fast performance!)

2nd Place, Acceleration (Truck): Logan Moore

2nd Place, Troubleshooting: Weston Hicks and Domenick DiBiase

3rd Place, Acceleration (Car): Katiana Vazquez

3rd Place, Jeopardy: Logan Moore and Tyler King

3rd Place, Oratorical: Grant Simme and Zac Bender

 

Our small-scale STEM Cycle was completed just in time to compete!

Quick update

The EV program has been hard at work designing our small-scale (Electrathon-style) electric vehicle over the past two months.  We are now receiving equipment and will begin assembly in preparation for the EV Challenge on April 4-6.  Pictures of our progress will be posted soon.