Halle (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – The Audi factory donated a €76,000 electric Q8 e-tron and car bodies to GO! Technisch Atheneum Halle. Coordinator Sven Vander Melen says it will boost student learning for years.
As VRT News reported, the GO! Technisch Atheneum in Halle got a free electric car from the Audi factory in Vorst. It is an Audi Q8 e-tron, a car that costs about €76,000. The factory is closing after 78 years, and they are giving away tools and machines to schools.
They mentioned that the car has a big battery, screens inside, and runs without fuel. Students can take it apart and put it back together to learn how electric cars work. The school says it could never buy such a car on its own. Now, students can train with real car parts and learn skills for future jobs.
How will Audi’s €76K Q8 e-tron donation impact GO! Technisch Atheneum Halle students?
Sven Vander Melen, the technical coordinator at the school, says they could never have bought this car themselves. He believes the Audi will help students learn for at least 10 more years. The students can disassemble and reassemble the car so they can learn about how new cars work and operates. He alluded that the car indicates the end of the Audi factory in Brussels, but, also a new beginning for young people, learning about modern automobile technology.
The GO! Technisch Atheneum in Halle is glad to get the Audi Q8 e-tron. Teachers can set up small problems with the car, like brakes that stick or a motor that does not start. Students will try to find and fix the problem.
The school also got 2 full car bodies from Audi. These are for students who learn how to repair the outside of cars. The school says these gifts are very useful. The students can work with real parts and learn skills they will need for jobs.
The school feels both happy and sad about the gift. Audi Brussels has helped them for many years. Now the factory is closing, so this will be the last time they get support. The school says it is getting harder to find good tools for teaching. They mentioned that new cars and equipment cost a lot of money, which is hard for the school to pay.
Audi Brussels has been building cars in Vorst for nearly 80 years. The factory was known for making electric cars like the Audi e-tron. Recently, Audi decided to close the plant as part of a new plan for making cars. The factory will stop working.
