Donabate Community College and DCU gear up for Greenpower Car Challenge

Students from Donabate Community College supported by the DCU Faculty of Engineering and Computing tested their electric powered cars at DCU (Wednesday, June 8th ) in advance of the upcoming Greenpower Car Challenge in Kirkistown, Belfast on June 11 th.

The Transition Year students built both cars with the guidance of members of the DCU Engineering Society and academics over a two month period.

Siemens, who sponsor the project, provided Solid Edge, their Project Lifecycle Management Software to DCU, allowing staff and engineers to assist the two groups from Donabate Community College. In addition, Majenta PLM which is the UK’s leading PLM software solution provider was on hand to provide expert support in Solid Edge implementation.

As a result of working with Majenta and Solid Edge it has enabled the University to enter the prestigious Greenpower Car Challenge on June 11th at Kirkistown motor race track, Belfast.

The challenge is organised by the Greenpower Education Trust and aims to promote sustainable engineering and technology to second level students.

Dr Paul Young from the School of Mechanical and Manufacturing engineering at DCU said:

“The Greenpower Challenge has been an exciting project for Dublin City University and Donabate Community College to work together on and the level of dedication and commitment displayed by the students has been fantastic.

Projects like this are invaluable for sparking an interest in STEM subjects and careers as students get to experience these subjects in a practical way.

We are grateful to Siemens for their support which has enabled the project to reach its full potential and for DCU and Donabate Community College to participate in the Greenpower Car Challenge in Belfast this Saturday, June 11th.”

Gary O’Callaghan, CEO at Siemens Limited Ireland said:

“Siemens in Ireland is delighted to support the Greenpower Challenge. Projects like this are invaluable to companies such as Siemens, helping us to reach tomorrow’s talent by engaging young people in engineering and science from an early age.

By using real life applications such as the building of electric cars we hope to explain and to get young people enthusiastic about science and technology.

In particular the Greenpower Challenge to design and build an electric racing car spans the Siemens focus areas of Automation, Electrification and Digitalization. It complements our extensive global programme of engagement with young people around the STEM (Science Technology Engineering and Maths) Agenda and our relationship with DCU through the Siemens Automation Cooperation Education programme.”