The team of eight students, who are studying technology and electronics, is the 2008 National Hydrogen Car champion after its hydrogen cell-powered model blitzed the field at a recent challenge in Penrith.

The hydrogen car challenge, organised by Social Environmental and Economic Sustainability (SEES), had 16 entries from Australian high schools.

SEES also runs a solar boat show and sustainability expo.

Oxley High School science teacher and team co-ordinator Rod Liles said each team was given hydrogen fuel cells and had to construct a car around them.

Each entry got a score out of 40.

Criteria included the result of the sprint and endurance challenge the car completed, how well team members knew the car, technical innovations and the car’s design.

“The kids have to sit there and talk to the judges about how much they understand about the whole project,” Mr Liles said.

“They scored really well on that. They knew all about what was happening.”

He said the students spent a lot of time on the car and gave up many lunch breaks to work on it.

“The kids have done it all themselves. They did a magnificent job.”

The outer shell was made out of bits of polystyrene glued together and painted.

Mr Liles said local businesses including Careers Network, Country Energy and Dick Smith had been a great help, the latter providing tools and supplies for “next to nothing”.

Narrabri High School won an event, Peel High School got second place in one category and William Cowper Anglican School was represented at the challenge, he said.

“It was all about teamwork. These kids just work fantastically as a team and I think they’re more aware of hydrogen as a technology and a possible fuel,” Mr Liles said.