ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — On Saturday, April 17, Albuquerque Public Schools, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Public Service Company of New Mexico and Sandia National Laboratories will host the fourth annual Alternative Fuels Challenge at Wilson Middle School.
More than 30 middle schools teams from Carlsbad, Albuquerque and northern New Mexico will compete in the fun-filled event. Festivities begin at 8 a.m. and the racing of the students’ hydrogen-powered cars is scheduled for 9 a.m. Trophies in four different competitions will be awarded immediately after the racing.
The Alternative Fuels Challenge provides an opportunity for middle school teams, each comprising two to six students, to learn and use science and engineering skills to face technical challenges comparable to those that scientists and engineers face every day. The Challenge was created to help the students learn about the growing need for renewable energy sources and to give them a hands-on opportunity to explore the rapidly emerging alternative energy technology of hydrogen-powered cars.
The Alternative Fuels Challenge will be held Saturday, April 17 at 8 a.m. at Wilson Middle School at 1138 Cardenas SE, a block northwest of the intersection of Gibson and San Pedro.
Restricted to using a hydrogen fuel cell and electric motor that is provided to them, the students use their imaginations to create unique and hopefully fast hydrogen-powered cars. The design of their car is also judged for originality. In addition, the students enter a short essay and give an oral presentation.