‘I don’t hear anything,? exclaimed one student at Blanche Sims Elementary. ‘It’s almost like a go cart.?
On Friday, the two fifth grade classes gathered outside, clamoring around one of Chrysler’s prototype electric cars. The car was parked on the sidewalk as Brett Giem, father of a student, ‘revved? the near-silent vehicle.
Giem is an engineer at Chrysler and brought the Global Electric Motorcar (GEM) to enhance students? scientific studies. As part of their classroom studies, fifth graders built miniature electric cars using nine-volt batteries and pulley systems to study force, motion and human impact on the environment.
During Giem’s presentation, he discussed the importance of using electricity versus using gasoline in order to protect the environment and decrease dependence on oil and gasoline. GEMs plug directly into normal outlets to charge their battery and some can travel as far as 100 miles before needing some juice.
The Chrysler engineer welcomed student questions throughout the presentation.
‘Will we have to change our laws to better suit electric cars?? one student asked.
‘Will they be more expensive to buy?? asked another.
Another inquisitive mind was concerned about increasing household electric bills.
Giem assured students that their issues will be addressed by the national infrastructure implemented to sustain electric cars. What’s important right now, he says, is that Chrysler’s prototypes are fully functional and are already on testing tracks beating out hemis.