James Clemens High has received a Greenpower electric racecar kit as a grant valued at $5,100, courtesy of Greenpower USA and funded by Sanmina. The photo shows a completed racecar. (CONTRIBUTED)

MADISON – James Clemens High School has received a grant worth $5,100 in the form of a Greenpower electric racecar kit.

The award is courtesy of Greenpower USA and funded by Sanmina.

“The awarded car consists of basically everything needed to get started except a body,” Greg Ennis, who instructs engineering and robotics, said. “We are required to, at a minimum, design and create a body and put the kit together.”

Ennis plans to have students start with the kit car and advance to design and construction of a chassis and other components.

The race team will be open to all interested students. Ennis hopes to enter a race planned for Oct. 31.

Ennis believes this project will generate plenty of excitement among James Clemens students and be a valuable hands-on learning opportunity. For the first year, he will form a joint Madison city team with Bob Jones High School.

“Both schools can gain experience and be more competitive in the future,” Ennis said. “We’ll work with middle schools to help build teams at that level.”

Teams must design a highly efficient car and travel as far as possible within 90 minutes. “They must consider mechanical and aerodynamic friction, electrical resistance, battery discharge efficiency and other aspects,” Ennis said. “Good communication and teamwork are essential.”

Originating in England, Greenpower racing was introduced in the United States by Huntsville City Schools. The program is in the ground-floor stage with plans to involve students and schools across the country.

The city race team needs sponsors and mentors. Interested individuals should contact Ennis at James Clemens or Jessye Gaines at Bob Jones.

Some items that the team needs are various electrical/electronic and auto body components, high-quality battery chargers, tools (electrical, mechanic and auto body) and helmets and racing suits. They also need people or companies to donate machining or welding time and to train students.

“We also need space to work on our car,” Ennis said.

For more information, visit greenpowerusa.net.