Safer Electric Motorcycle From Saint Thomas Academy Responds to Gas Crisis and Motorcycle Safety Concerns

  WHAT:   Saint Thomas Academy's Experimental Vehicle Team
          (http://www.staevt.com/ )(EVT) will show off its latest invention
          -- the Safer Electric Motorcycle and allow members of the media
          with a motorcycle license to take it for a spin!

          The team applied its knowledge of physics, electrical systems,
          engines and molds to create this street-legal motorcycle that
          travels 60 mph for 40+ miles before needing to be recharged by an
          on-board, 110-volt charger. "Crush zones" and other safety
          features protect the driver by keeping him inside the vehicle in a
          collision.

  WHEN:   Saturday, July 19, 2008
          8-10 a.m.

  WHO:    The Experimental Vehicle Team
          Team moderator and physics teacher, Mark Westlake

  WHERE:  Saint Thomas Academy
          949 Mendota Heights Road
          Mendota Heights, Minn.
          651.454.4570

  BACKGROUND:

Transportation accounts for about 28 percent of energy consumption in the U.S. and ranks second in household expenses (averaging $7,371 per year). With U.S. commutes averaging 14.5 miles one way, the safer electric motorcycle could be a practical and fuel-efficient means of transportation.

The 2007-2008 team included 17 boys from the Academy and two girls from the Convent of the Visitation School. They unveiled the motorcycle last month at MIT and were recently featured on CNN (http://www.cnn.com/video/?/video/tech/2008/07/10/levs.green.bike.cnn).

The Experimental Vehicle Team is a co-curricular program that teaches budding engineers real-life problem-solving skills. Past Experimental Vehicle Teams have built a one-person car that got more than 1,300 mpg, an electric car that traveled 50 miles on two car batteries, and a street-legal solar car that raced from Texas to California. The teams have won eight National Championships and set numerous national records. Some these vehicles will also be on display at the event.

  MOTORCYCLE FEATURES
  -- One-person, comfortable, feet-first position
  -- Automatic drive system with a simple twist throttle
  -- Roll over, front, rear and side protection with a carbon fiber/Nomex
     honeycomb body and Chromoly frame
  -- Three-point seat belt
  -- Full-coverage polycarbonate Lexan(R) windshield
  -- Aerodynamic, vacuum-molded, carbon fiber body
  -- 5 lithium-phosphate-ion batteries
  -- 4130 Chromoly steel chassis

  ABOUT SAINT THOMAS ACADEMY:

Founded in 1885, Saint Thomas Academy (http://www.cadets.com/) is an all-male, college preparatory, Catholic, military/leadership school committed to preparing young men to succeed in college and in life.