Simon Hauger and Azeem Hill: On Building Bad Ass Hybrids

The West Philly Hybrid X Team came this close (thumb and forefinger ever so narrowly spaced) to winning the Progressive Automotive X Prize’s $USD10m prize this year. Simon Hauger, who came to teaching from a career in engineering, started the team as an after school project for students who wanted a hands-on science experience. Hauger and team co-captain Azeem Hill, a senior at West Philly, share their X Team story.

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“Simon Hauger is an Engineer turned inner-city High School Math and Science teacher. He began the Hybrid X Team at West Philadelphia High School 13 years ago to engage his students in math, science and engineering. The students in this After School programme have won multiple National competitions with the hybrid vehicles they designed and built.

Their vehicles have outperformed top universities and corporations. In 2010, the team was honoured at the White House. The innovative approach to education that powered the Hybrid X Team to victory is the basis for a new school that Hauger and his colleagues have begun.

The Sustainability Workshop challenges students to solve the world’s most pressing problems, and organises teaching and learning in service of doing so. Hauger and his wife have three wonderful children. He drives a super fast bio-diesel Jetta that was built by the team. He loves his family and his car.”

The VIDEO