EV Challenge

PO Box 37807
Raleigh, NC 27627
www.evchallenge.org

Students Design Vehicles Offering Alternative To Gasoline

Raleigh, N.C. (April 7, 2003) – Students from 6 states, representing over 35 schools, will gather in Raleigh April 11 – 12 to drive, test, present, and compete with their custom-built electric cars and trucks in the culmination of the 7th Annual Electric Vehicle (EV) Challenge.

Recognized by the US Environmental Protection Agency as one of the outstanding environmental education programs in the nation, the EV Challenge is a yearlong education program. Including students at the middle and high school level, the program is designed to offer a hands on opportunity to learn about the transportation fuel issues facing our society today. Middle school students actually have a opportunity to design and build a scale solar powered electric vehicle while high school students convert a full size gasoline vehicle to battery electric power. The high school program involves students from a variety of disciplines including math, auto mechanics, physics, engineering, electronics, journalism, and many other classes. Throughout the year, students complete a variety of activities such as environmental science projects, designing web sites, developing public presentations, and a wide range of community service projects. The highlight of the program for the high school students is the design and construction of street-legal electric vehicles that students compete in vehicle design, autocross, and range events.

The EV Challenge is the largest and fastest growing program of its type in the nation. Started in 1996 the program has more than 4000 students participating this year.

EV Challenge events on Friday, April 11 will take place at the Harris Nuclear Plant Energy and Environmental Center located in Newhill, N.C. (southwest Wake County) beginning at 9 a.m. On Saturday, April 12 the program moves to the US EPA Campus in Research Triangle Park.. To learn more about the EV Challenge, including maps and directions to event locations, visit the program web site at www.evchallenge.org or contact:

Ralph Goodwin
919-546-6551
919-818-9902 cell