After she readies her car behind the starting line, Marisol peers down the track to her  partner Alicia, looking for their nod telling her they are ready to catch their vehicle as it crosses  the finish line in their school’s EV Challenge race. In that moment, she flashes through the  journey she and her partner have taken preparing for this day: learning about gear ratios and aerodynamics, friction and bearings, and renewable energy and the future of EV; how Alicia had come to class the third day of the project, excited by the design idea that  her dad had come up with, then later laughing when they realized it didn’t quite fit the  project specifications. The process of trial and error was at times frustrating and sometimes put her and Alicia at odds, but this experience made it all worth it.  Marisol is snapped back to reality by her teacher’s  words, “Racers, are you ready?” She is. 

The EWEB EV Challenge is back this spring. The EV component offers a real-life approach with today’s vehicle options and renewable energy to the challenge. 6th-8th grade teachers and students are gearing up for a modified version of the annual Challenge. The EV Challenge project reaches “out of the box” thinking students and draws them to an academically focused project.

Students benefit from this inquiry-based, highly motivating physical science unit in many  ways. They learn the effects of friction, drag, inertia, speed, momentum, and gravity on  car performance. They learn the importance of design and precision of craftsmanship. They learn what it means to collaborate and be a part of a team, working together to determine conditions that provide for optimal performance through trial and error. But most importantly, they learn that science is REALLY fun and full of exciting career options. 

This year the EV Challenge races will take place at individual sites, rather than a multi-district  Saturday event. This will provide a more equitable and site centered competition. Students from Bethel, Springfield, and Eugene 4J school districts will participate in the EV project and have the opportunity for the culminating speed car race.

The EV challenge consists of three different options:  

1. A 20 meter drag race of EV speed cars 

2. A concept car competition judging student creativity in terms of art.

3. A concept car competition judging student creativity in terms of science.

Teacher Resources (Please note-these resources are being updated to reflect the EV rebranding.)

EV overview for teachers

New Teacher Survival Guide

EV Concept Cars:

The Concept Car (What a concept!)

The concept car could be:

• A car with a fabulous appearance

• A car with a great idea behind it

• A car which students find inspirational for any other reason.

Qualifications:

 It does not have to race in the speed contest, but may do so, if the speed/design and concept entries are the same vehicle. 

It does, however, have to follow these basic rules:

1. The size specs (30 cm wide x 60 cm long, 30 cm high) must apply.

2. The concept car must function as a car; it must be able to move over a flat surface, a distance of 3 feet. Cars that do not meet the requirements will be red-flagged and will not be eligible for voting.

The Winners: 

Judging option: The winners will be decided by expert scientist panel of judges. There will be first, second and third place winners.

Voting option: Each EV Challenge participant will receive a voting ticket, which will allow them to cast one vote on the concept car of their choice. Voting will commence when all concept cars have been tested, photographed and put on display. There will be first, second and third place winners. 

Art Concept Car Questions

Art Concept Car Rubric

Science Concept Car Questions

Science Concept Car Rubric