E-Bike masters amped for national finals
‘‘If you can imagine a concrete netball court – and lots of gravel.’’ Denis Mansell
An electric-powered superbike built by a team of Taupo students has shot to the top of a regional competition, winning five categories.
In February, seven students from Tauhara College elected to take part in the EVolocity Waikato electric vehicle building competition.
After months of Tuesday afternoons spent researching, designing and building an electric bike in the style of Burt Monro’s ‘‘World’s Fastest Indian motorbike’’, the boys travelled to the competition’s regional finals in Hamilton to put their creation to the test against 12 other schools.
The finals included a drag race, a slalom course, a fastest deceleration competition, and an economic energy-use competition.
In the 100 metre drag race, police speed-guns tracked the bikes. The Tauhara College boys’ electric bike clocked in at 38 kilometres per hour.
After finishing the race – which the Taupo boys completed well before other teams – judges measured how long it took bikes to stop.
‘‘Most other teams did normal braking, but Denis just did full lock-on brakes,’’ team member Isaac Nichols said.
The bike skidded to an abrupt stop.
‘‘I think it was better to do that. Not safer, but better,’’ the Year 13 rider Denis Mansell said.
The boys won the Fastest Deceleration Bike title, with 8 metres.
The ‘‘Street Circuit’’ slalom course gave the Taupo rider some concerns though, as he was stretched down low and wearing only overalls.
‘‘It was quite worrying. If you can imagine a concrete netball court – and lots of gravel,’’ Denis said.
However, unperturbed, the bike performed well and Taupo team came second.
The Tauhara College boys came away winners of the Overall Best Performing Bike title, as well as Best Design and Show, Best Community Awareness, Fastest Deceleration and Best Bike.
This success earns them the right to compete at the EVolocity national competition in Christchurch on November 27.
‘‘The others have been going for two years – we’re the new kids on the block,’’ Sullivan said.
‘‘But the boys are confident.’’