Norwich Tech Students Participate in Electric Car Competition

Norwich Technical High School students participated in the annual Electrathon Competition at Lime Rock Raceway in Lakeville, Connecticut on October 27th. Students from the Computer Aided Drafting and Design department at Norwich Tech spent months improving and refurbishing a used electric car as part of a program to help them to learn engineering skills. Seniors Victor Martinez and Keith Santor drove the vehicle in its premiere race at Lime Rock Raceway topping out at 27 miles per hour.

Two 12-volt Optima brand lead-acid car batteries power the 165-pound car which Norwich Public Utilities, Camaro Signs, Mystic Cycle and Napa Auto of Norwich help to refurbish. The students hope to now build a car from scratch. They already have the plans for each of the electric car's parts which they think will be a lighter and faster version.

Teacher John Murphy, who is temporarily serving as an educational consultant for the state's technical high school system, along with instructor Thuan Huynh initiated the electric car program  at Norwich Tech.

See a short video of the car in action at the Electrathon.
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