The Alternative Press

The event is sponsored by TransOptions, a non-profit group located in Cedar Knolls, NJ. Their mission is to improve mobility, environment, and the quality of life as the Transportation Management Association (TMA) for Morris, Sussex, Warren, suburban Essex, Passaic, and Union Counties.

TransOptions provided the participating schools with transparent small fuel cells, and, the students incorporated their cells within cars that they created for the race. The students utilized distilled water to power the vehicles. Once the cars are charged with electricity, oxygen and hydrogen are the result, which powers the battery.

Christian Santoro, a student from Madison High School, and, a member of the Madison High School Physics Team, said his school started conceptualizing the car at the beginning of the school year, meeting once weekly.

James Finley, a seventh and eighth grade science teacher in New Providence, led four groups of students from New Providence. There were four teams divided by grade level, starting from freshman through senior. Finley said the opportunity was open to all students in the school to compete. Students worked on the cars after school, and sometimes brought the cars home.

“The competition demonstrated TransOptions’ ongoing commitment to environmental education,” said John F. Ciaffone, TransOptions President. “We were proud to host the competition again this year and help future motorists learn first-hand about a sustainable fuel, improving air quality and reducing pollution.”

“This is something we searched for to bring the idea of alternative fuels to high school students,” said Joseph Caravella, Environmental Programs Manager. “It’s been a very successful exercise for us.”

Caravella said the group has seen many students who started in the Hydrogen Fuel Cell Model Car Challenge, and the Junior Solar Sprints, pursue careers in engineering, and, intern at locations like Picatinny Arsenal in Northwestern Morris County.

Since the fuel cells are clear, Caravella added how it allows students to view the water levels, to determine if their cells are over or under-hydrated.

The event is important as well, Caravella said, to help students become more versed, and develop a greater appreciation for S.T.E.M. (science, technology, engineering, and math) programs.

Participating schools were: Delbarton School, Hanover Park High School, High Point Regional High School, Kittatinny Regional High School, Madison High School, Morris County School of Technology, Morris Knolls High School, New Providence High School, Newton High School, Piscataway High School, Warren County Technical School, and West Essex Regional High School.

Caravella said TransOptions is very appreciative towards the administration of the New Providence School District, for opening up their schools for the Hydrogen Fuel Cell Model Car Challenge, and, the Junior Solar Sprints.

“They understand the value [of the programs] to invite us back every year,” said Caravella. 

The cars were judged on speed during the race heats, and were evaluated by judges for the documentation, craftsmanship, and engineering.

The winning results are:

Speed

1^st Place – “Ultra” – Kittatinny Regional High School – Vito Truri & Klaudio Gobo

2^nd Place – “Untitled” – New Providence High School – Nina Sun, Madee Ku, Henry Lee, Aditya Vinjamuri

3^rd Place – “Rolling Thunder 3” – Morris County Technical School – Andrew Ludwig, Matthew Stinson, Austin Redlich, Christopher McGrogan

 

Documentation

1^st Place – “Brevity” – Hanover Park High School – John Lu, Francisco Ruela, Alex Mansueto, Rohan Garg

2^nd Place – “Aperture 1” – Newton High School – Shane Best, Austin Koehler

3^rd Place – “MK3” – Morris Knolls High School – Gianluca Borrelli, Ryan Maginals

 

Craftsmanship

1^st Place – “Brevity” – Hanover Park High School - John Lu, Francisco Ruela, Alex Mansueto, Rohan Garg

2^nd Place – “Hrothgar” – New Providence High School – Michael Glendinning, Nick Xu, Steve Bronocco, Aditi Padmanabhan

3^rd Place – “MK2” – Morris Knolls High School – William Weber, Nick Francisco

 

Engineering

1^st Place – “Brevity” – Hanover Park High School - John Lu, Francisco Ruela, Alex Mansueto, Rohan Garg

2^nd Place – “Aperture 1” – Newton High School - Shane Best, Austin Koehler

3^rd Place – “MK3” – Morris Knolls High School - Gianluca Borrelli, Ryan Maginals

For more information about TransOptions click here to access their website:  www.transoptions.org. To learn more about the Hydrogen Fuel Cell Model Car Challenge, and to participate in the 2012 race, contact:  (973) 267-7600 or info@transoptions.org.