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.

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