Current
Cars
Learn more about our cars we're working on for the 2025-2026 competition season.
Monster Car
Featuring a zinc-alkaline battery propulsion system, our Monster Truck runs off the electrochemistry principles learned in chemistry. With an energy dense battery composed of zinc plates, manganese dioxide powder, and alkaline potassium hydroxide electrolyte, Monster Truck has a voltage output of 1.5V. The key behind Monster Truck is the Monster reaction, synthesized from permanganate and glucose from a monster energy drink. A photodiode placed outside a vial containing this reaction senses the color change of the reaction from pink/purple to clear, cutting the power to the motor.
1.5 V output
Top voltage
? meters
Top range
Lead by
Propulsion Team Lead
Austin Tran
This car's propulsion team works to create a propulsion mechanism from electrochemistry principles.
Using AGM cells, a subtype of lead acid batteries, this propulsion team works to maximize the battery output and efficiency with different electrode materials. As the backbone to the chemical reactions that run the car, this team requires heavy interdisciplinary knowledge of battery chemistry and E&M principles.
Stopping Team Lead
Reina Salman
This car's stopping team works to create a stopping mechanism from a color-change reaction.
Using Monster energy drinks, the Monster stopping mechanism relies on a redox-reaction between acidic glucose permanganate and potassium hydroxide. By changing the acidity, concentrations, and volumes of each solution, this team works to optimize the duration and strength of the color change. By analyzing the redox chemistry and experimental data, LDR values can be optimized to control the time it takes to stop the car.
Perry the Platybus
2.1 V output
Top voltage
? meters
Top range
Perry the platybus is powered by a lead acid battery, with a high cell potential up to an astounding 2.1V. The power generated by the lead acid battery is then connected to a rotary motor, promoting an instantaneous acceleration of our system. The stopping mechanism features a Briggs-Rauscher reaction and a predetermined initial chemical concentration needed for a desired length of time. Alongside electrical engineering, a light sensor is used to detect the number of cycles elapsed and power to the motor is cut off.
Lead by
This car's propulsion team works to create a propulsion mechanism from electrochemistry principles.
Using battery chemistry, this car works to determine chemically resistant materials strong enough to house a highly exothermic reaction. Requiring a heavy knowledge of battery chemistry and material science, this team works to propel our car.
Propulsion Team Lead
Jaden Song
This car's stopping team works to efficiently stop the car with a predetermined amount of time.
Using an iodine-clock reaction, this team works with thiosulfate, hydrogen peroxide, starch, and iodine. By calibrating the color change reaction with the electrical team, this team is able to accurately and precisely determine the time at which our car stops.
Stopping Team Lead
John Basombrio
Mechanical & Electrical Teams
Mechanical Team
Mechanical Team Lead
Johnathan Maku
To create a solid yet a lightweight structure for our cars, the mechanical team uses a mix of CAD designs, 3D printing, metalworks, and laser printing.
With the knowledge of what data is to be collected from the chemical/electrical teams, this team works to create structurally integral chassis designs, cell housings, and all other necessary components to house our complex systems.
Electrical Team
Electrical Team Lead
Sri Ujjini
Using electrical engineering principles and advanced circuitry, the electrical team works diligently to create circuits suited to each cars' operating mechanisms.
Photosensors and LED lights are used to collect data about our chemical reactions. With advanced circuits, the data is then converted into electrical signals for our stopping mechanisms.