Five kids from the auto shop program at West Philadelphia High School built a car that can go from 0 to 60 MPH in 4 seconds, get more than 50 MPG, and get this - uses soybean oil as fuel!
The five kids, along with a handful of schoolmates, built the soybean-fueled car as an after-school project. It took them more than a year — rummaging for parts, configuring wires and learning as they went. As teacher Simon Hauger notes, these kids weren't exactly the cream of the academic crop.
"We have a number of high school dropouts," he says. "We have a number that have been removed for disciplinary reasons and they end up with us."
One of the Fab Five, Kosi Harmon, was in a gang at his old school — and he was a terrible student. The car project has changed all that.
`would like to see more, and have been extolling the approach for decades working wit problem kids. mr. simon hauger is to be more than congratulated for his ability in leadership, but moreso by engendering passion in these young men. this is of monumental importance -- more accomplished than the auto manufacturers - also less tainted and beurocratized. would love to see an expanded website - if only to appreciate the aestheticsof the project. all of these young men will do well. street smarts don'e get beaten down by industry. kudos. capt g. sarkany - architect
down by industry. kudos. capt g. sarkany - architect