Introduction
History
Cooperative Research Network Pilot Study
Activities
Benefits
Sponsors

The Georgia EV Education Program
Making Electric Vehicles Work in the Classroom

In November of 1996, a group of students from Jackson County Comprehensive High School made a unique presentation to Jackson EMC. To learn more about alternative transportation technology, environmental issues, and help other students learn through hands-on activities and in-service learning, they wanted to construct an electric go-kart. With funding and technical assistance from Jackson EMC these students completed the state’s first high school student-built electric vehicle in November 1997. Their continued efforts have made them one of the leading schools in electric vehicle design, construction, and competition. Though impressive in its own right, a more far-reaching consequence is that their efforts have helped spawn a state-wide program to change the face of education in Georgia by using electric vehicles as part of an exciting hands-on teaching program.

With the help of Pioneer RESA, funding through a Georgia Department of Education Innovation Grant and additional funding from Georgia Power Company, four schools were added in 1998 to form a pilot program to develop tools, training, a curriculum, and model for implementing EV Education in classrooms statewide. While helping to develop these program elements, teachers and students continued to advance, building vehicles, winning competitions, and demonstrating the value of EV Education on test scores. The EV Education Program Innovation grant was validated in May 2000 opening the door and providing funding for more schools to participate.

Growing out of the need for expanded technical support and better teaching tools geared toward the classroom teacher, a local business, EV Master was formed. They created the EV Master Teaching Vehicle, a low-cost, fully functional electric vehicle kit that could be assembled in a classroom with basic hand tools. This standardization made training simpler and made it possible for more schools to accomplish the hands-on goal of building a real electric vehicle.

During the summer of 2000, eleven teachers from eight schools participated in a training workshop using the new vehicle kit. Since then, EV Master has conducted several training workshops, provided technical support, and organized successful and motivational Electric Vehicle rallies. Last spring’s rally involved 200 students from 11 schools with 22 EVs in a variety of academic and skill-oriented competitions.

In just a short time, the Georgia EV Education Program has grown from a single rural Georgia school to over 30 schools statewide. These schools, their teachers, and students with the aid of community and business partners, have racked up an impressive list of accomplishments and documented successes.

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