Panthers' S-P-E-E-D, Jackson County High School's Electric Vehicle Club, brought home 3rd place in the Tour de Sol, a grueling alternative fuel vehicle competition.

Winning with their electric vehicle, Fire Fly, the students' years of hard work paid off.

Each year, Tour de Sol showcases vehicles that use alternative fuels like biomass, battery electric, electric hybrid, solar and hydrogen fuel cells. The competition includes a variety of events that test vehicle performance, reliability and efficiency. The highlight of the event is driving a route that starts in Trenton, N.J., travels to Philadelphia, Pa., and ends in Washington, D.C.

Throughout the event, Panthers' club members make presentations to the public, log data, conduct maintenance and logistical support and complete academic assignments from the classes they are missing during competition.

This hard work, coupled with financial support from Jackson EMC and the expert help of Alan Shedd, commercial/industrial marketing engineer, allowed students to experience an event of a lifetime. However, Shedd says this accomplishment is shared with the entire community. "The school gets a lot of support from the community – businesses and individuals. One of the strengths of the program is that it helps build community spirit and involvement. I am proud to be part of it; however, I don't want to take too much credit. Ultimately it's the students who have to make it work."

The Fire Fly is a 1983 Ford Ranger pickup truck, which was transformed into an electric vehicle. Weighing nearly two and one-quarter tons, the Fire Fly runs on 6-volt batters, 26 of them, with a 12-volt auxiliary batter that provides power to control the circuits of the EV electronics as well as the auxiliary equipment like lights and instruments. The car will travel 80 miles on charge and takes six to eight hours to recharge. "At typical residential electric rates of $.065/kWh, the truck can recharge for less than $2, and you can't go very far on $2 worth of gas these days," says Shedd.

For more information on Tour de Sol, please visit this Web site, www.nesea.org/transportation/tour/.