SARASOTA COUNTY (WSNN) – A New College of Florida student takes solar energy to a whole new level. Antonia Ginsberg-Klemmt receives national recognition for an invention to power electric cars.
Out of thousands of applicants nationwide, Antonia received this year’s OZY Genius award. Only 10 college students receive this $10,000 award for pursuing ‘ideas that have a positive impact on society.”
“At first, it wasn’t really expected. It’s very very exciting cause I come from a smallish town, we don’t often get huge recognition, especially for a project like this, so for me it’s huge,” Antonia Ginsberg-Klemmt said.
“It felt really awesome,” Antonia’s dad, Achim Ginsberg-Klemmt said. “I mean we felt really humbled by this honor.”
Antonia is building her invention called, GismoPower:
“Garage Interior Storable Modular Photovoltaic On Wheels with integrated EV charger Rack,” Antonia said.
It’s a mobile solar panel carport with an integrated electric vehicle charger for the New College of Florida campus.
“Here living in Florida, there’s the huge issue of parking in the sun and then you get in your car, and it feels like an oven,” Antonia said. “So I figured why don’t we have more carports.”
And then, she came up with the idea to use the sun’s energy, putting solar panels on top of the carports.
“It kind of acts as a double win-win, in the sense that you’re providing shade for your car underneath, as well generating electricity,” Antonia said.
It’s different from other solar-paneled carports because this one is mobile.
“If there were to be a hurricane, you can easily release this, and lower these panels down, and this whole system can collapse and consolidate and push it into a garage,” Antonia said.
But she didn’t do it alone.
“We struggled for several months altogether, all three of us,” Achim said.
And they never gave up.
“Antonia has always shown a lot of perseverance, when she puts her mind to something, she always follows through,” Erika said.
“Antonia is not only a person who has big dreams, she also pursues them and realizes them,” Achim said.
Her final reveal is set for August at New College.
They’re currently building a prototype from their garage. But as people learn about the project, it has peaked some community interest. The Ginsberg-Klemmt family is looking for investors.
