Resolution 090224

..Title Honoring and Recognizing the West Philadelphia High School Automobile Academy for Mechanics and Engineering and the Hybrid X Team on their Participation in the Automotive X Prize Competition to Develop and Market a Car that Gets One Hundred Miles to the Gallon. ..Body WHEREAS, The West High School Automobile Academy has won several awards for engineering environmentally responsible automobile proto-types including the first-place prize in the 2005 and 2006 Hybrid K-1 Attack, a competition to develop a car achieving 100 miles per hour in four seconds while achieving at least 60 miles to the gallon; and WHEREAS, The current competition will give the Academy an opportunity to win a share of the $10 million purse, in a contest that pits the Academy against one hundred other teams from around the world including colleges and universities; and WHEREAS, The Hybrid X Team is the only team comprised entirely of high school students; and WHEREAS, The Team is confident of its chances with Team member Sekou Kamara saying, "We can easily achieve 100 mpg. We built a car that had 200 mpg"; and WHEREAS, The Team is employing a light-weight carbon body and a hybrid electric engine that runs on bio-diesel; and WHEREAS, The competition also requires the teams to develop a plan to sell ten thousands units per year, emphasizing the need to build cars that are both environmentally responsible and pleasing to consumers; and WHEREAS, Programs like the Automobile Academy give students hands-on training that keeps them interested in school and equips them with marketable skills for life after graduation; and WHEREAS, We are proud and excited to support the West Philadelphia High School Automobile Academy for Mechanics and Engineering and the Hybrid X Team as they participate in this challenging competition; now therefore, be it, RESOLVED, That the Philadelphia City Council hereby honors and recognizes the West Philadelphia High School Automobile Academy for Mechanics and Engineering and the Hybrid X Team on their Participation in the Automotive X Prize Competition to Develop and Market a Car that Gets One Hundred Miles to the Gallon. FURTHER RESOLVED, That an Engrossed copy of this resolution be presented to the Academy and the Hybrid X Team as a sincere expression of this Council's appreciation and recognition. ..End