Electric Co-op Today

Students in Arkansas pulled out all the stops to compete in the seventh annual Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas Electric Vehicle Rally. More than 150 students from middle schools, high schools and community colleges were on teams that entered vehicles this year.

Students prepare for time trials at the Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas Electric Vehicle Rally. (Photo By: Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas)

“The program provided an interesting way to teach electricity, teamwork, [and] physics, as well as current events and drama,” said Charles Arnold, a long-time adviser to EV race teams from Arkansas’ Corning Public Schools.

Besides assembling basic components, including gear boxes, and the vehicle’s electric power train, students also were able to experiment with methods of improving the vehicle’s single battery charge performance.

“The vehicles are actually go-carts. They are small in stature, but large in their ability to expose students to the technologies that electric vehicles represent,” said Rob Roedel, manager of corporate communications for the statewide association. Arkansas’ rural electric cooperatives have sponsored the program since 2003.

While many of the schools involved received their kits last fall, the preparation pace began building momentum in January with a few extra hours a week after school. By March, many teams were putting in extra time daily to get ready for the April 30 rally at the south campus of Little Rock’s Pulaski Tech.

“Each year the contest has grown and the level of innovation displayed by the students increases,” said Doug White, vice president of system services for the Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas.

During time trials, some electric vehicles whirred past cheering spectators at speeds approaching 30 miles per hour, said White. “Their enthusiasm at the event is super and similar to the feel of a state championship football game.”

Tags: Co-op News, Electric Vehicles