Flipbook - TBF Autumn 2025 - Flipbook - Page 11
Banchory
Greenpower
Racing Team
By Chris Engel
Banchory Academy Greenpower is an
independent, after-school STEM (Science,
Technology, Engineering and Maths) club. The
project gets young people (11-17 years old,
girls and boys) enthusiastic about science
and engineering by challenging them to
design, build and race an electric car. They
then compete against over 700 other schools
across the UK and internationally. The aim is
to travel the greatest possible distance in 90
minutes on a single charge of the 12v batteries.
Quite a tricky challenge with a focus on energy
conservation and efficiency.
Since 2017 the team has built and raced three
electric cars. Electron, Photon and Neutron.
The cars have been raced locally at Alford as
well as East Fortune, Croft, Silverstone and
Goodwood circuits. Very few 11–17 year-olds
can say they’ve driven on the F1 circuit at
Silverstone!
Banchory
2025 performance
Greenpower is
in two races has
one of Scotland’s
been good so far
with podiums at East
top teams,
Fortune in April and an
and has been
outright win at Alford
in the top 10%
in June. But it’s not
internationally.
just about winning. It’s
about applying classroom theory to practical,
real-world solutions. It’s about learning new
skills, engineering, metalwork, electronics,
coding, design, project management,
teamwork, thinking ‘out of the box’ and even
some valuable life skills. Workshop sessions
are run weekly during term-time and there are
also track sessions and races.
The students, parents and school are
not charged. All expenses are covered by
donations, grants and sponsorship.
A number of local organisations have
generously supported the project. These
include Banchory Rotary Club, Banchory and
District Round Table, Co-op, TLC Potatoes,
Banchory Community Council and Crathes,
Drumoak and Durris Community Council.
The club is run by four volunteer mentors, all
retired oil industry professionals, who lead
a team of around 25 students. In order to
build in resilience for the future, it is hoped
to recruit a few more mentors with a range of
applicable skills in engineering, electronics,
IT, project management, design, finance and
fundraising. It would suit recently retired
professionals with some spare time who
are keen to get involved in a rewarding and
enjoyable activity. Interested?
Scan the QR code to visit our
Facebook page or email:
info@banchory-greenpower.org
The Banchory Fly |Autumn 2025 Page 11
