Lauren Pirc, News Editor
Lewis University professors and students operated a booth at the Green Car Show at the Naperville Test Track to exhibit fuel and transportation alternatives on Aug. 30.
U.S. Representative Judy Biggert (R-IL-13) hosted the event. It displayed automotive technologies that can help reduce the nation’s reliance on foreign oil and provide consumers with clean, affordable transportation alternatives. Dr. Joe Kozminski, associate professor of physics, received a call about the event and was instrumental in Lewis’ participation. Four Lewis University professors displayed and discussed different aspects of alternatives.
Dr. Jerry Kavouras, assistant professor of biology and Director of Environmental Science, had a display on sustainable transportation. Dr. Jason Keleher, assistant professor of chemistry, discussed solar cell research, as well as displayed a second poster with Dr. Randal DeMik, associate professor of aviation, about biofuels for the aviation industry. Dr. Ray Klump, associate professor and chair of Math/Computer Science, gave his take on a smart power grid system.
“Lewis’ contribution was to show what we do, what’s going on here,” Kavouras said. “I had information about typical busways and carpools, to encourage more mass transit. I wanted to show ways to link up all mass transit so that people can link one service to another and get across the city faster.”
Chemistry majors Olivia Chesniak, Alessandro Mazza, Jordan Kaiser and physics major Elizabeth De Waard participated in the operation of the stand and did interactive experiments with passing viewers.
“There were a lot of kids walking by,” Kavouras said. “The students did interactive things like experiments to grab their attention. They had boats powered by Alkaseltzer tablets, so they started fizzing and the boats would shoot across alternative ways of generating power.”
Alternatively fueled cars, like the Nissan Leaf and the Chevy Volt, were put on display. Because fossil fuels are nonrenewable, electronic cars are advantageous for those that do primarily local driving, as they will cost less in the long run over gas-fueled cars. However, electric cars are not without problems.
“You’re moving from fossil fuels to the resources used to make the batteries,” Kavouras said. “You have to make sure you always have access to the materials to make those batteries. You don’t have the air pollution issues you have with fossil fuels. You’ll still have issues from a resource point of view.”
The event showed spectators what the future of fuel and transportation could hold. It was also a chance to view what other options were already available.
“This was a good event to let people actually see and test drive some of these electric cars to get a feel if this is something they want to buy,” Kavouras said. “This event was a good way to encourage people to consider electric cars. Lewis got an opportunity to showcase what we do that other people might not realize.”
Lauren Pirc
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