Pupils target nil-emission car

Black Country pupils hope to be first in a race to build an environmentally-friendly car.

They are putting finishing touches to a lightweight electric-powered car as an alternative to gas-guzzlers.

Ellowes Hall Sports College pupils, in Stickley Lane, Lower Gornal, designed and built a car for a the race at Rockingham Motor Speedway on July 3.

It has been organised to find the country's best nil-emission car designed by schoolchildren. Cars will be judged on endurance and efficiency, rather than speed.

More than 400 schools nationally will enter with Ellowes Hall the only Dudley school entering. The race is organised by Greenpower, a national organisation promoting engineering and technology as a viable career option to pupils.

Pupils had expert help from West Midlands-based CHN group which concentrates on finding energy solutions such as solar panels and wind turbines.

The project is a topical subject as the European Union has recently agreed to cut carbon dioxide levels by 20 per cent by 2020 and to try and increase the use of renewable fuels.

Teacher of Design and Technology Alan Szum said: "The whole idea is to race efficiently without using fossil fuels, but with sound engineering and good aerodynamics.

"We entered last year but the electric motors get very hot, and overheating was a problem. This year we are fitting air cooling tubes and experimenting with a water drip onto the motor and CHN are helping us explore using a solar-powered fan cooling system."