Box Truck
Started in 2012, Finished in 2019
In 2012, we acquired a 1950’s box truck (formerly used to sell snacks) that we converted to run on 100% vegetable oil. We installed a system that cleans restaurant’s waste vegetable oil and feeds it into the truck’s tank.
During events such as science fairs and school visits, we open up the inside of the truck for visitors to view. The inside contains a mobile environmental classroom that includes interactive, technology-enabled displays:
- An interactive display using solar cells
- An environment-themed mural painted on the box truck ceiling tiles
- A plexiglass display of the batteries involved in electric conversion
- A display of the AC-DC power convertor
- A display showing how the vegetable oil is used as a fuel source for the truck
- Educational video games with an environmental theme
- A demonstration of energy-efficient light bulbs versus traditional light bulbs, where visitors pedal a bike to light the bulbs
- Interactive display “Is This Recyclable?”
- Interactive display “How do Solar Cells Produce Energy?”
- An Arduino that displays the solar energy (irradiance) collected by solar panels (measured in Watts/meter^2)
