Working on Wiring

Currently the EV team is working on some wiring. We are in the process of connecting the tachometer to the controller as well as a wireless router. We plan to use the wireless router for an app on Google play called EV Speedo for Soliton1. We are also connecting a proximity sensor to determine rpm.

The Sheriff's in town

Sam Page, the sheriff of Rockingham county, came to our school to see the Electric Fox and and the EV program.

Mr. Butler explaining the car and how it performs and talking about some changes where in the process of making.

The sheriff plans to return in the near future when the car is operational and ride with one of the students. To learn more about the Rockingham County Sheriffs Office click here

Riverstone comes to McMichael

Riverside films is an independent film production company based in Burlington NC. they had recently contacted the EV Challenge about maybe doing a video or short film about it that would possibly be aired on local television.



They came to our school on march 13th and interviewed a few members of the team and got some footage of the car.

Out with the NEW in with the OLD

Time to update the dash from 1992 to 1982..... YES a twenty year old dashboard is being replaced w/ a 30 year old dashboard. The 1982 GT dashboard will add retro looks to the electric fox and due to it wiring locations, the overall install will be much cleaner. We hope to add digital gauges in the near future. The instrument cluster will be removed on the new dash..... more pics to come as the progress continues.

Preparing for the EV Challenge

This is a video of the electric fox driven by Quinton Dickerson getting ready for the autocross event at the EV Challenge

The electric vehicle team packed up and headed toward LJVM coliseum in Winston-Salem NC to the Triad Sports Car Club (TSCC) Autocross. TSCC designed a great course that allowed EV team members to practice their skills. Also Chief of Tech, Terry Phibbs, acted as a coach for Quinton Dickerson as he bettered his skills handling the electric fox. Quinton drove the EV in the EV Challenge 2011 autocross and hopes to bring a first place trophy home this year in the car class.

John Butler (left) discussing the last run w/ Terry Phibbs while
Quinton Dickerson gets psyched for his next run.

The electric fox preformed very well... very little body roll and the tires, Kumho Escta XS on the 17x9 wheels performed great w/ the heavy lead batteries. One change we plan to make before the EV challenge is to remove some of the steering rack limiters and get the front end professionally aligned. The dampers and springs are spot on... of course a few more volts would be nice.

EV member Tyler Haney take a great shot of the
electric fox as Quinton finishes a run.

John Butler (passenger) coaches team member
Clinton Blankenship during a fun run.

Along w/ the TSCC autocross the EV team showed the electric fox outside the doors of the C&E Gun show. Many guns and knife lovers stopped by to see the EV as they exited the show.

Spencers takes Principal Jones for a Electric Fox ride.

EV team member takes our Principal, Leigh Jones for a ride in the Electric Fox. McMichael High School is preparing for more Science, Technology, Engineering, & Design (STEM) courses and projects like the EV conversion. Principal Jones enjoys students becoming hands-on w/ learning.

Battery Maintenance

Time to check the batteries and connections on the Electric Fox. Flooded lead acid batteries like those used in the Electric Fox require periodic maintenance. One of the most often overlooked item to check is the electrolyte level. During the charging and use of the batteries the electrolyte level drops and can damage the lead plates if the level gets too low. The 8v Johnson Controls batteries used on the Electric fox have easy to remove caps that allow refilling of the battery with clean distilled water.

Any flooded lead acid battery needs the fluid level checked periodically. North Dakota State University has some good tips on their Ag. Extension page --> http://www.ag.ndsu.edu/pubs/ageng/safety/ae1022w.htm ddd

While refilling the battery electolyte w/ distilled water Spencer checks all the connections for tightness and corrosion. Also Spencer checked all the voltage of the individual batteries. One battery was found to be low on voltage so we will monitor it and may decide to replace it w/ one of our backup batteries.